Hey Christian! Have you been to Synagogue???

[Adrift]

So I attended a synagogue for the first time last night. A friend of mine who's taking a comparative religions class invited me to go after the rest of his classmates backed out due to Thanksgiving break. My friend had contacted the local reform synagogue and the rabbi and asked permission for us to attend and they were glad to have us. Surprisingly, two other Christians (pastors actually) also showed up. We didn't know these folks and it was completely coincidental that they attended the same night we did. It didn't seem the rabbi expected them either, but he graciously welcomed them nonetheless.

I gotta say, the night was very educational. I hadn't realized that there are only 30 Jewish families in the rather small city I currently live in, and that there isn't another synagogue within 80 miles. There were maybe 20-30 attendees and most of them were elderly. I was amazed to find that the rabbi is not local, but is from Columbus, Oh which is over an hour and a half from us. He only visits the synagogue once every 3 weeks or so and works as a chaplain at a hospital in Columbus. I found out later that he is- fairly new to the congregation himself having only been their rabbi for a number of months.

Walking into the synagogue there was a dining room to our left and to the right was the worship area with pews and what not. I wasn't expecting to see the dining area and people eating before service so that was kind of neat. The rabbi invited us to dine with the congregation and talked to us a bit before services started. He asked us what we already knew of Judaism, and what we were expecting from the night. He pointed out that most of the congregation was elderly and that, unfortunately, many young people drop out of synagogue. It felt like the congregation was slowly drying up and eventually there might not be a need for a synagogue in this city.

A sort of an uncomfortable moment in the conversation popped up while the rabbi was relaying a story to us about his visit earlier that day to an Arby's. He was surprised and a bit offended that the local Arby's was playing Christian music over their speaker system. This is a small midwest city and he's from New York originally, but even in Columbus he'd never hear a public restaurant play Christian music. I'm not exactly sure what his point was, but I believe he was trying to say something about how Americans ought to be more inclusive of all peoples and faiths and not automatically assume that no one would take offence at this public display of one particular brand of faith. I really didn't have much to say about that. He's free to his opinion and I don't think he's completely wrong, however, I wouldn't find it all offending to walk into a restaurant playing klezmer or something, in fact, I'd probably really really dig it. In fact, every time I walk into an Indian restaurant they're playing beautiful religious music and I don't think to complain about it. I rather like it. My friend is a bit boisterous and likes to speak his mind (despite inopportune times) and started to argue that he thought hearing Christian music in restaurants is great because it preaches the message of Jesus Christ. I could tell this obviously didn't go over too well with the rabbi, but my friend isn't quite as empathic. Eventually the rabbi tried to sort of butter over the conversation and I jumped in to change the subject. I'm not sure, but I had a feeling that, though the rabbi was very polite and incorporated our being there into the service by explaining certain traditions and what not, that the discussion before service tainted the evening. I don't know, maybe I'm being over sensitive, but that's just the way it seemed to me. In my mind it was like, we're guests in their house so we ought to be on our very best behavior. Meh, anyways..

I felt a bit unsure how to act or what was proper protocol, and because the congregation was so small I was hoping we weren't considered a nuisance, but seems like my concerns were unjustified because the whole service was very sort of loose, almost unorganized at times. I attribute the unorganization to the fact that the rabbi is new and not there very often and that the congregation is just very old. But I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, which, again, I wasn't expecting. I've been to Christian churches that range from take your shoes off and put your feet up to uptight lockstep tradition. I suppose I was expecting something more akin to latter than the former, but that didn't happen. The worship music was beautiful. Very peaceful. We had worship music books, and I tried to sing along where I could in English and Hebrew. I kept getting lost because I'm not used to turning pages right to left . The congregation didn't seem to know the songs that well either, so I didn't feel too bad. Later I found out that a few of the songs were new to them as well. The rabbi taught a bit on Jacob wrestling the angel, and suggested that it was metaphorical for one wrestling with one's own mind. He pointed out that the encounter wrenched Jacob's hip and that was where the kosher tradition of avoiding the sciatic nerve comes from. Again, I didn't feel bad not knowing this because most of the congregation didn't know either . The rabbi also talked about Jewish prayer. He mentioned that in his work as a chaplain in a hospital he often hears Christian prayers for God's healing, and that Jews do not pray for this, rather they pray about their need for God despite their present circumstances. I believe his point is that God is not a genie in a bottle we rub when we're desperate, which I of course agree with, but I thought was a bit naive to assume that Christians also don't acknowledge their need for God. Anyways, I wasn't offended, and it was interesting to see a Jewish perspective. One of the more interesting moments in the service was when the rabbi took the Torah out behind a curtain at the front of room that contained other large copies with, what appeared to be, gold crowns on them. Very beautiful. At one point he carried the Torah around the room and the congregation one by one touched their worship books to the scroll. I'm assuming this was to impart the word of God in a sense. We weren't allowed to touch it with our books .

After service the rabbi busied himself with other congregants, and it might have been my imagination, but seemed to be avoiding us (maybe he was just wanted to spend some time with his congregation though, I don't know). That was okay, because members of the congregation loved having young folks to talk to. People who probably hadn't heard their life stories a hundred times . It was cool, I love talking to old people. They've lived so much history we take for granted.

Anyways, that was my night. I had a great time. Interesting note... the place smelled like my grandma and grandpa's farm house. Its a smell I guess I usually connect with old Midwestern German homes. I don't know. Weird.

[Cow Poke]

VERY enjoyable, Adrift! Thanks for sharing!

[Adrift]

VERY enjoyable, Adrift! Thanks for sharing!

My pleasure

[Cow Poke]

My pleasure

My visits to Synagogue have also been very enjoyable, and I think it really helps to let the Rabbi know ahead of time -- then you're not "barging in", and they will usually take more time to welcome you.

I knew the part about the "hip bone", but that's illustrative of many OTHER things I learned from the Rabbi (and the Synagogue visits in general) -- things I "knew" from my Christian background, but never knew WHY I "knew" them.

[Adrift]

My visits to Synagogue have also been very enjoyable, and I think it really helps to let the Rabbi know ahead of time -- then you're not "barging in", and they will usually take more time to welcome you.

Yeah, I'm really glad my buddy called ahead. I can only imagine it would've been just really awkward had he not.

I knew the part about the "hip bone", but that's illustrative of many OTHER things I learned from the Rabbi (and the Synagogue visits in general) -- things I "knew" from my Christian background, but never knew WHY I "knew" them.

We were invited, and I hope to go back, in a few weeks for Chanukah. I got lots more to learn. We also plan on visiting a large mosque in Dayton at a later date.

[Tanakh Keeper]

Hello Adrift

A couple of comments about your post
1) In my experience, it is pretty rare for a rabbi to mention Christianity during their sermons. I'd suspect that he did it because yall were there.
2) The rabbi was using the story about Jacob to make a point. It wasn't that the congregation didn't know the story. They were just listening to the rabbi's interpretation.
3) The Torah scrolls are shown the utmost respect as they are exact copies of G-d original words to us. We don't touch it to "impart the word of G-d", the Torah needs to be read to do that. It is traditional for us to kiss the scrolls. However, we don't touch it with our bare hands, except to carry it. We touch the scrolls with either a tallis or a book as it passes by, and then kiss that. We are taught that whoever honors the Torah scroll will be honored themselves.

I was surprised to hear that this congregation ate before the service. Did they also eat after the service?

[Adrift]

Hello Adrift

A couple of comments about your post
1) In my experience, it is pretty rare for a rabbi to mention Christianity during their sermons. I'd suspect that he did it because yall were there.

That may be. I don't know. It simply seemed to me that he was sharing an anecdotal event that transpired during his normal day job, but maybe you're right.

2) The rabbi was using the story about Jacob to make a point. It wasn't that the congregation didn't know the story. They were just listening to the rabbi's interpretation.

It wasn't that they (or I) didn't know the story of Jacob wrestling the angel, its that they didn't appear to know the origin of the kosher dietary law for avoiding the sciatic nerve. The Rabbi literally asked the room if any of them were raised eating Kosher. A couple of hands went up. Then he asked the room something to the extant of "does anyone know where the rule for avoiding the sciatic nerve comes from? No one? Well it comes from Abraham injuring his hip while wrestling with the angel" Then the congregation was like "ohhhh.." as if to say "so that's where it came from..."

3) The Torah scrolls are shown the utmost respect as they are exact copies of G-d original words to us. We don't touch it to "impart the word of G-d", the Torah needs to be read to do that. It is traditional for us to kiss the scrolls. However, we don't touch it with our bare hands, except to carry it. We touch the scrolls with either a tallis or a book as it passes by, and then kiss that. We are taught that whoever honors the Torah scroll will be honored themselves.

Ah. That makes more sense.

I was surprised to hear that this congregation ate before the service. Did they also eat after the service?

Nope. I was surprised about this too, but they had a whole dining room to the left including, what I'm assuming was, non-Jewish staff to take away dishes before service.

[Tanakh Keeper]

Nope. I was surprised about this too, but they had a whole dining room to the left including, what I'm assuming was, non-Jewish staff to take away dishes before service.

We can only hope that the staff were non-Jewish. A synagogue is supposed to adhere to the Shabbat. It would defeat the purpose if Jews were doing the dishes.

[Adrift]

We can only hope that the staff were non-Jewish. A synagogue is supposed to adhere to the Shabbat. It would defeat the purpose if Jews were doing the dishes.

Ah. Of course.

[Chavak]

A sort of an uncomfortable moment in the conversation popped up while the rabbi was relaying a story to us about his visit earlier that day to an Arby's. He was surprised and a bit offended that the local Arby's was playing Christian music over their speaker system.

I go to an Orthodox congregation, not a Reform one, so I am not familiar enough with them to know
if this is a typical experience or not. Hard to believe that the people did not know where the law
against eating meat from the sciatic nerve area came from.

Our congregation is very young, and growing. So I think the age of the congregants and whether it is growing or dying depends on the location. The demographics can vary immensely.

I don't understand this rabbis attitude about Christmas music. Here he is eating in a non-kosher
restaurant, and he's worrying about the music? His opinion is just plain silly to me. This is
a Christian country, and Arby's has the right to play Christmas music or anything else they want.
If he is so upset, he can eat elsewhere (and preferably something kosher! :) )

[Adrift]

I go to an Orthodox congregation, not a Reform one, so I am not familiar enough with them to know
if this is a typical experience or not. Hard to believe that the people did not know where the law
against eating meat from the sciatic nerve area came from.

Yeah, I don't know. I thought that was odd too, but that's precisely how it played out. I also thought it was odd that when the Rabbi asked if anyone grew up eating kosher only a couple (very old) people raised their hands. Granted its Reform, but I figured there'd be more than that.

Our congregation is very young, and growing. So I think the age of the congregants and whether it is growing or dying depends on the location. The demographics can vary immensely.

That may be. I meant to celebrate Hanukkah at the synagogue a couple days ago, but was sick so I wasn't able to attend. Maybe next year.

I don't understand this rabbis attitude about Christmas music. Here he is eating in a non-kosher
restaurant, and he's worrying about the music? His opinion is just plain silly to me. This is
a Christian country, and Arby's has the right to play Christmas music or anything else they want.
If he is so upset, he can eat elsewhere (and preferably something kosher! :) )

I don't know, I sort of see his point, but believe it or not, even Christians are sometimes subjected to media that is counter our beliefs and values. It isn't worth much to constantly let ourselves be offended by it though.

[Dracula Girl]

That may be. I meant to celebrate Hanukkah at the synagogue a couple days ago, but was sick so I wasn't able to attend. Maybe next year.

My synagogue is doing their Hanukkah party on the last day of Hanukkah. Maybe another synagogue in your area is doing the same?

Vegetarian food is supposed to be ok, if you don't mind that the meat/dairy/other dishes come from the same set and are washed together. Arby's is mostly a meat sandwich restaurant or a general restaurant?

[Cow Poke]

My synagogue is doing their Hanukkah party on the last day of Hanukkah. Maybe another synagogue in your area is doing the same?

Vegetarian food is supposed to be ok, if you don't mind that the meat/dairy/other dishes come from the same set and are washed together. Arby's is mostly a meat sandwich restaurant or a general restaurant?

Arby's has a really good chicken salad "Market" sandwich - but they're famous (or infamous) for their roast beef.

[Adrift]

My synagogue is doing their Hanukkah party on the last day of Hanukkah. Maybe another synagogue in your area is doing the same?

Not within my area no. The next closest synagogue is over 80 miles away. I suppose I could make a trip, but it may be a little late to receive permission to attend.

Vegetarian food is supposed to be ok, if you don't mind that the meat/dairy/other dishes come from the same set and are washed together. Arby's is mostly a meat sandwich restaurant or a general restaurant?

Yes, mostly known for their roast beef sandwiches as CP has indicated.

[OneSizeFit]

I'd rather go to a mosque. At least they dont believe Jesus is a bastard child of a whore.