Be The Tenth (Online Interactive Website)

In 2009 Miriam created an online interactive website after her mother died targeted the Kaddish—that is, the prayer that a Jew, along with nine others, recites three times a day for a year after a parent passes away. In the most traditional synagogues, this group (known as a minyan) comprises ten men; women are excluded. In less conservative branches of Judaism, the involvement of women varies. Thus, Stern developed an interactive online project, BeTheTenth.com. There were nine participants and the viewer became the tenth. Some minyanim had mechizot (separations between men and women) and some did not. Some were for women only and some for men only. A recording of the kaddish played. Viewers were invited to choose their preferred minyan and recite the Kaddish with the rest.