With all Baltimore shuls closed and many people in isolation, the internet has become a conduit for kedusha. Rabbi Binyamin Marwick of Shomrei Emunah was kind enough to explain how his shul is using Zoom for both shiurim and davening.
Zoom, a video-conferencing platform, allows davening “alone together.” Rabbi Marwick davens aloud, and each man in his own home can see and hear the other members of the “minyan.” It is not a minyan in the halachic sense, of course, and one cannot say kaddish or chazaras hashas or lein the Torah. But it does allow a group of people to daven at one time and to feel connected to each other and the community.
Rabbi Marwick started with a Mincha for plag, followed by Maariv, and a Mincha at shkiah, followed by Maariv, and then a Maariv service at 10 p.m. Shacharis at Vasikin, 6:55 a.m., has been added.
The service has included as many as 35 individuals. Learning, tehilim, and three mishnayos are also said at the davening. This is especially pertinent to those who cannot say kaddish, as learning mishnayos is a way of giving an aliyah to the neshama.
To join the Zoom Shomrei davening, go to https://zoom.us/j/9679792492. The meeting ID is: 967 979 2492. One tap mobile: +19292056099,,9679792492#. Dial by your location: +1-929-205-6099 Meeting ID: 967 979 2492
