NEW YORK - Congregants packing the pews, joining as one community in prayer, is how Rosh Hashanah is usually celebrated at the Park Avenue Synagogue.

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove is saddened this will not be possible this year because of COVID-19.

“It’s going to be a loss. We are doing everything we can to engage with our community virtually to by way of learning by way of prayer by way of making outreach," said Rabbi Cosgrove. 

What You Need To Know

  • Many synagogues will livestream or post recorded services online to protect congregants from COVID-19

  • Orthodox synagogues are allowing only a small number of congregants for in-person services
  • The sounding of the shofar will be moved outside because it can potentially make virus particles airborne

The Park Avenue Synagogue, like many congregations in the city that are part of the Reform and Conservative branches of Judaism, will live stream their High Holiday services Saturday and Sunday instead.

Orthodox Jews are forbidden from using electronics on the sabbath and major Jewish holidays, so Orthodox congregations like the Park East Synagogue will not be streaming services. The synagogue usually gets about a thousand people for these services, no more than 100 will be allowed this year because of COVID restrictions. Most congregants will worship in smaller gatherings at home.

“A famous rabbi said God is where you let him in. This is especially true this year. So the answer this year to our members is look, we’ve been through terrible times, thank God we are alive and we are here to tell the story and you’re going to make your home into a mini synagogue, “ said Cantor Benny Rogosnitzky.

The blowing of the shofar, or ram's horn is one of the most significant rituals during Rosh Hashanah. It’s used as a call to repent. Because sounding the shofar potentially can make virus particles airborne, congregations will perform the ritual outside .

Temple Emanu-El, a reform synagogue, pre-recorded it, allowing congregants to listen online. Each sound of the horn even more significant this year.

“One of them sounds like whaling, crying. Certainly this past year has heard too much of that. Second of the notes almost sounds like an alarm clock that reminds us that the world is a broken place we need to stir ourselves to repair it," said Rabbi Joshua Davidson.

Jewish leaders say however their congregants worship, they need to have faith, their prayers for a better future will be answered.

“We’re putting our trust in God, that what was was. That’s last year that’s the past we look forward we’re looking forward to a new bright year, a year of blessings,” said Shimon Hecht, a rabbi at Congregation B’nai Jacob in Brooklyn.