Q: What is the average show's duration?

A: The Rabbi's weekday classes start promptly at 8pm (B'nai Tikvah Time) and end at 9:15 followed by informal discussions over cookies and soda. These "prime time" shows are sometimes limited to one hour. The moderator will text a "10 minute warning" before the phones are closed. Recording, however, continues to the conclusion of the classroom session and will be available in its entirety for subsequent listening.

Q: Will class materials be available to help me follow the webcast?

A: Check the appropriate section of the Adult Education page for available references. It might also be helpful to have another browser window (or a separate laptop computer) open to eBible.org where you can easily find any verse of any chapter of any book.

Q: Do I have to register to participate?

A: No. Registration is not required to listen or to call in but, you must be registered to interact with other listeners (and the moderator) via the "chat window". It is most helpful to the moderator if you register and send a short text of the subject of your intended call. (i.e. anything the moderator should tell the rabbi before he takes the call.) Also give the last 4 digits of your phone number in case we have other callers at the same time.

Q: What number do I call to ask a question?

A: When a show is in progress, the call-in number is displayed at the top of the BlogTalkRadio page. It is local to New York City so, depending on your phone service, it may not be a free call.

Q: What happens when I call in?

A: As soon as the phone connects, you should begin to hear the live session but, your voice will not be heard. The moderator will be aware of your presence by seeing your phone number appear on the "switchboard". The moderator is not expected to recognize who you are unless you previously sent a "chat message". The moderator will alert the rabbi of your call and will "unmute" your phone in response to the rabbi's acknowledgement. As your question is being answered, the moderator will most likely place your call on "mute" but, will not disconnect the call unless there are others waiting. If you are still on the line and want to ask another question, you may signal you are "raising your hand" by hitting the "1" key on your telephone.

Q: Who can I speak to when I call?

A: We are using a "free" service which supports only one call-in number. When you hear the rabbi acknowledge your call, you will be heard by everyone. Please be courteous and keep your conversation brief, as if you were present in the classroom.

Q: Can I submit a question without making a phone call?

A: Yes. Simply type your question in the "chat window" and the moderator will relay your question to the rabbi.

Q: Is there a delay?

A: Yes and No. There is a 20 second delay for those listening on their computers. Callers will be speaking to the rabbi in "real time". The caller should mute their computer's speakers as not to go insane.

Q: What is the best way to register?

A: Your user name is displayed when posting a message in the "chat window". We suggest using your 1st initial and last name, however, if you think the moderator would recognize you by your AIM id or email address, feel free to use that instead. Nothing prevents you from making up an anonymous id, such as "caller123" but, the moderator might be more inclined to give priority to someone who is clearly identifiable as a congregant.

Q: How many calls can be handled at once?

A: Up to four callers can be on at any one time. The moderator will decide which (if any) callers will be on the air (unmuted) simultaneously.

Q: Can I bypass the opening commercial?

A: On the upper right of the window, slide the play bar to the left to skip ahead.

Q: Can I download shows to my iPod or mp3 player?

A: Yes. Click the download button for the desired show and you will be prompted to save it as an mp3 file.

Q: Do I need any special software?

A: No. The webcast can be received on most any web browser, such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Opera, etc. You may be required to download and install the most recent version of Adobe Flash. Some users have reported problems using the AOL browser but, it could be due to an older Flash version. An experimental "click-to-talk" feature may be soon avilable to be supported by Internet Explorer only.

Q: How can I increase the volume?

A: In Windows, double-click the volume control icon in the lower right corner. This should open the sound mixer. Raise the levels of both the WAV and master controls. Also adjust the external volume control on your speakers if applicable. If you still have trouble, it could be a problem on our end. Send a chat message to let the moderator know.

Q: What is the function of the show's moderator?

A: The moderator(s) sit in the back of the class with a laptop connected to the BlogTalkRadio "switchboard". They participate in the chat window while trying to pay attention to what the rabbi is saying. When a call comes in, it is initially "muted". The moderator sees the caller's phone number (only) and signals to the rabbi when there is a caller on the line. After the rabbi's acknowledgement, the moderator will "unmute" the call. The moderator will then decide when to "mute" the phone. If the caller has an additional question or comment, he or she may "raise their hand" by pressing the "1" key on the telephone. The moderator will signal this to the rabbi before unmuting the phone again. The moderator will only allow up to three active callers to keep the last line open. The moderator has the ability to disconnect a caller or to ban a user from the chat room.

Q: How do I communicate with the moderator?

A: The best way is to register (with a recognizable name) and send a text message via the "chat window". To communicate privately, you can send an "Instant Message" (via AIM, Yahoo Messenger, or MSN Live Messenger) to CBTRADIO. The moderator will monitor these Instant Message services during the webcast through Trillian.

Q: Can anyone at B'nai Tikvah host a show?

A: Absolutely. We encourage anyone who is interested to get in touch with anyone who has already done it. As with any event at B'nai Tikvah, please inform the office, Webmaster, and Hakol editor with as much information and lead time as you can.