Homepage

Virtual Holiday Celebrations Cause Technology Challenges, but CNY Library Offers Help Virtual Holidays Offer Technology Problems

By Allison Weiss

The set-up of a Passover family dinner conducted via Zoom. Virtual dinners and holiday services present challenges for those who struggle with technology.
© 2020 Keren Henderson

Allison Weiss: CELEBRATING EASTER AND PASSOVER MIGHT BE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLE WITH TECHNOLOGY AND ARE STUCK IN QUARANTINE. MANY RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS ARE HOLDING EASTER AND PASSOVER SERVICES VIA ZOOM. RABBI ANDREW PEPPERSTONE OF CONGREGATION BETH SHOLOM-CHEVRA SHAS SAYS THAT HE IS USING TECHNOLOGY TO CONNECT WITH HIS CONGREGATION.

Rabbi Andrew Pepperstone: There are four of us here myself, my wife Cantor Paula Pepperstone and our two kids and we’re going to be using Zoom to share our Seder with any members who would like to participate with us.”>

Allison Weiss: WITH RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING SERVICES THROUGH ZOOM, PEOPLE THAT STRUGGLE WITH THE TECHNOLOGY COULD BE LEFT OUT. BUT, THE JAMESVILLE-DEWITT LIBRARY IS OFFERING TECHNOLOGY-HELP SERVICES TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS THEM. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR TECHNOLOGY AT THE LIBRARY ERIN CASSIDY SAYS THEY ARE OFFERING 20-MINUTE CONSULTATION SERVICES TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING.

Erin Cassidy:We know that, you know, learning a new technology can be very difficult. So, we want to help people with communication software such as Facetime or Zoom.

Allison Weiss: THE TECHNOLOGY-HELP PROGRAM ALSO OFFERS ASSISTANCE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA PROGRAMS LIKE FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM. ALLISON WEISS, N-C-C NEWS.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — The celebrations of Easter and Passover might look a little different in quarantine, especially because many are using communication software like Zoom to connect with family and religious communities. In fact, many religious organizations in the CNY area are using Zoom to stream religious services for the holidays. Rabbi Andrew Pepperstone of Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas said he will be using Zoom in order to connect virtually with his congregation.

“There are four of us here myself, my wife Cantor Paula Pepperstone and our two kids and we’re going to be using Zoom to share our Seder with any members who would like to participate with us,” Pepperstone said.

In order to participate in religious services online, people need to have some experience with technology. And while most people are able to use the technology efficiently and easily, others struggle. However, the Community Library of Jamesville and Dewitt is offering tech-help services to help members of the library with technology issues. Some of the technology programs they provide assistance with are:

  • Facetime
  • Zoom
  • Slack
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Netflix

Assistant Director for technology at the library Erin Cassidy said the tech-help sessions are 20 minutes long and are meant for anyone who needs help with technology.

“We know that, you know, learning a new technology can be very difficult. So, we want to help people with communication software such as Facetime or Zoom,” Cassidy said.

Many churches and synagogues in the Central New York area will be offering virtual religious services for the remainder of Passover and Easter. Passover started on April 8 and will continue until April 16. Easter Sunday is on April 12.

Related Articles