TCS Goes High Tech

 by Alan Gelb

Freeman Dyson, Princeton's visionary physicist/ mathematician, once wrote that technology is a gift of God. "After the gift of life, it is perhaps the greatest of God's gifts," Dyson maintained. "It is the mother of civilizations, of arts and sciences." If you agree, you'll be excited to know that the Chatham Synagogue has taken those words to heart and improved our technology capabilities in significant ways.

Our new computer and video projection system, combined with wireless Internet connection, means that we can now be connected to, and interact with, people and institutions all over the world, exponentially expanding our opportunities to question and learn.

The Synagogue's first fully interactive event will take place on Tuesday, July 20th at 6:00pm, when we will "visit" with Rabbi Jamie Korngold, coming to us from Boulder, Colorado. This is made possible by the online software application, Skype, which allows users to make voice and voice-with-video calls over the Internet. When connecting computer-to-computer, as we will be, the service is free.

Rabbi Korngold is the founder of the nationally known Adventure Rabbi program, which helps people reconnect to Judaism via the great outdoors. Her book, Finding God in the Wilderness, published by Doubleday, and now in its third printing, balances a deep understanding of scripture with a wry sense of humor and a passion for nature. "The premise is that religion was created in the wilderness for a reason," says Rabbi Korngold. "There are certain spiritual lessons that we "get" best outdoors."

This interactive event will provide a chance to brainstorm with Rabbi Korngold about ideas and directions that we can put into play right here in Columbia County. Considering the exceptionally beautiful part of the world in which our synagogue is located, there is considerable interest in thinking about ways that we too can integrate the natural world into our spiritual practice. Shabbat services in the back garden? Torah study at Ooms Pond? The possibilities are intriguing and plentiful, so come to the event armed with questions and thoughts.

Looking ahead, our technology upgrade will allow us to tap into endless resources from colleges, universities, and libraries all over the world. Our adult learners and Hebrew School students can work with tutors through Skype, if they so choose. Chatham Synagogue board members who may not be able to attend a meeting will now be able to participate from home.

Best of all, our exceedingly compact video projection system that sits on its customized media cart (thank you to our member, Dave Mieschonz, for customizing) has replaced our giant TV. That TV, which served us well for ten years, was more difficult to dock  than the Queen Mary. Some of our members even remember the days before it had its own lift table and it took four strong individuals to heave it up onto a counter on movie nights.