Australia is home to 91,000 Jews and most of them live in the lockdown capital Melbourne. For Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, some are embracing technology to continue ancient rituals, as others are 'tenaciously holding onto' their faith.
When Ash Shankar logs onto the computer each day, he doesn't wear pyjamas or trackpants — like many Australians in lockdown — but rather, two black boxes with leather straps.
It's an ancient ritual, but in the COVID era, the practice has become linked, even enhanced, with technology. Tyla Chapman, an education student also living in Melbourne, says it's the one day a year when all Jews — even those who aren't particularly religious — connect with their faith. While grateful to live under the same roof as her kids, Tyla's mum Linda says she misses interacting with her community in person, and observing millenia-old religious rituals.
"When we think about our ancient ancestors in the times of Egypt, we can't compare the direct situation they were in, but the concept of being isolated, and refrained from your civil liberties, in a way, we can resonate with that," he says.Rabbi Gabi playing the shofar outside for Rosh Hashanah.Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann from Melbourne's ARK Centre agrees the themes of Yom Kippur are particularly pertinent during a global pandemic.
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