New Series Tackles Judaism From a How-To Perspective

Rabbi Nissan Dovid Dubov saw a need, and he’s spent the past three years trying to fill it.

He noticed that men, following the death of a parent, would come to his Chabad-Lubavitch of Wimbledon synagogue in south London to pray the traditional mourner’s prayer known as Kaddish, but he realized they would often return home not knowing what to do next in their lives. They needed to learn how to don the Jewish prayer boxes known as tefillin, he reasoned, how to put on a prayer shawl or to sanctify the Sabbath by making Kiddush.

And what about those who might never step foot in his synagogue?

Dubov, who had produced some classes for upload to YouTube, toyed with the idea of creating an instructional DVD to hand out to people. Some sage advice from a synagogue member convinced him that in order to be available for all, Jewish how-to videos needed to be available online.

“He thought this would be a great idea,” says Dubov, referring to Raymond Lyons, an active supporter ever since his two sons embraced a religious lifestyle.

When they looked on the Web and didn’t see anything comparable, the pair dived right in and applied for grants and other funding. (In the end, Lyons became the main contributor to the ambitious project.)

Now available on Jewish.TV, the multimedia clearinghouse of classes, informative videos, and inspirational films run by the Judaism website Chabad.org, Dubov’s videos offer practical instruction on a host of Jewish rituals and customs. And they have the backing of British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, who delivers a 15-second introduction to each video.

“We’re very excited to have these videos,” says Jewish.TV producer Rabbi Shais Taub. “This is something that fills a very important need.

“There are people out there who have already started to make big changes,” he adds. “They are already inspired and ready to take the next step.”

Dubov sought the help of video producer Jeremy Wootliff, the leadings producer of fundraising videos for Jewish charities in the United Kingdom.

“We went to the best,” effuses Dubov.

Even so, the experience was a new one for Wootliff, and it was difficult directing a cast that did not include professional actors.

In one video, a gracious and articulate mother and daughter light Sabbath candles together. Another shows Rabbi Yitzhak Shochet, a longtime friend of Dubov’s, making Kiddush. There are nearly a dozen videos so far that explore the Grace After Meals, the ritual hand-washing done before eating, making a blessing on bread at the Sabbath table, putting on a prayer shawl, and praying Kaddish. Dubov wants to make more.

“If we had more funding we would broaden the project,” says the rabbi.

He also wants to dub the how-to videos in other languages, including German, Russian and Hebrew.

And while the videos adhere to the Chabad custom, Dubov is producing a version for Ashkenazi audiences that will be used by United Synagogues on its website.

“We made it as wide of an appeal as possible,” says Dubov, who has led Chabad of Wilmington with his wife Sarah for 23 years.

“My goal at this point is to get feedback and possibly to expand it,” he continues. “But for the moment, we’d like for it to be easily accessible, so that when people search for information on how to practice various rituals, these videos help them in their quest.”