Yomtov shul attendances rise — but not to pre-Covid levels - The Jewish Chronicle

Synagogue bodies are reporting “significantly” higher attendances at festival services this year, although many shuls say the numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels.

The United Synagogue said that despite encouraging turnouts on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, “some members still don’t feel comfortable returning”.

Its communities’ director, Jo Grose, praised shuls for preparing “engaging and inspiring services and programmes in an atmosphere where members felt comfortable”.

She also reported the “largest number of children across our communities for more than 18 months” at its youth and children’s services and pledged the US’s commitment to finding “new ways of engaging people both online and in person”.

Close on 1,000 people attended Bushey Synagogue’s Rosh Hashanah services, though numbers were “definitely down from our peak levels pre-Covid”, said Rabbi Elchonon Feldman. There was, however, “a clear indication that people wanted to come back to shul”.

At Highgate Synagogue, Rabbi Nicky Liss was “happily surprised” that demand for places necessitated the organising of additional services.

The Kol Nidre attendance of 240 was only just shy of the 2019 figure.

“We were completely bowled over by our numbers. We’re almost back to pre-pandemic levels,” he said.

Numbers were also up at Radlett US, with around 500 people gathered over Rosh Hashanah and an “overflow” of last-minute bookings for the Yom Kippur services. Sessions for younger members attracted another 40 people,

“We’re not back where we were for obvious reasons but we are approaching those levels,” Rabbi Jonathan Hughes noted.

He pointed out that 2019 had been a “bumper year [for attendance] because of the general awareness of antisemitism in the community at that time that brought everyone together”.

Golders Green Synagogue chair Joel Clark said the 700-plus capacity shul was “very full on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. There were probably a few people who were still uncomfortable with coming back but we were pretty close.”

The shul’s four children’s programmes were also well supported, with more than 100 taking part.

At the Movement for Reform Judaism, the word was that attendances were in line with expectations. However, a spokesperson reported that a second service was organised to meet the demand for Yizkor at its Menorah congregation in Manchester, “applications for personal attendance having exceeded their Covid safety number”.

Many Reform and Liberal shuls also made online provision for those unwilling or unable to attend physical gatherings.

Edgware and Hendon Reform reported that around twice as many people joined festival services and study sessions online than in person.