Recently, I have been getting more interested in technology. I longingly awaited the release of the new iPhone. Up until now, I have been interested but also a little reluctant to take chances and unwilling to sit for long enough to figure out exactly how some websites work. Honestly, my husband is my technical support. When I get a virus on the computer, I call Adam; when I can’t figure out how to do something or I get into a jam, I call Adam. Even at work, when the buttons on the top of my outlook suddenly disappeared, I called Adam. During my time in Israel, he would even remotely take over my computer to figure out a problem, since my skills were sometimes that limited. I can even remember carrying around a pager, and now I have the internet in my purse.

The endless possibilities for education, Jewish connection and building community are forcing me to overcome my fears of technology. I recently read an article about the use of Twitter during High Holy Day services in a big prominent congregation to contribute to a sermon discussion. This article not only started my wheels turning but really intrigued me.

To tell you the truth, even though I am what most would consider a “digital native,” having grown up with technology, I did not understand a lot of the lingo used in this article. As many of you know, I have been excited to log on to Facebook and find fellow Shomrei Torah congregants to friend. It is miraculous that people show up to a temple event, because they read about it on Facebook. I was thrilled to discover the Sonoma Jewish Connection site to post the 20’s and 30’s Sukkah event. I felt empowered to learn how to post things to the CST website and how to add pictures, audio files and even videos!

But today is only the beginning of a new age in technology. Web 1.0 fed the reader information; Web 2.0 allows the user to connect and engage in a much more sophisticated manner. I can’t wait to see 3.0 and beyond, because I can see that the internet at its best allows people to learn more and connect in a more meaningful way.

I am excited to infuse our services with different forms of visual t’filla. After seeing how much the kids in the Religious School pick up from the pictures on the slides with the prayers during our services, I am excited to bring new links and pages to the CST website. Now no one who has been granted the honor of an alyiah for a b’nei mitzvah needs to worry about asking for help with the prayer or the tune. There is a link on our website with a voice file.

I love grappling with different web sources to speed up administrative tasks and ease logistics. But most of all I am excited to use social media to help create a more vibrant active community, and YOU are a key to its success. Even though the High Holy Days are behind me, I still have not met everyone, and I definitely have not learned everyone’s name. But I would like to, so if you are a Facebook user, please friend me!