Synagogue Visit

Tonight we went to a service at a reform synagogue with our professor, Ophir, who teaches us about Israel and Judaism. He brought his son and daughter too, they were really cute, it was his daughter's 6th birthday. She was a doll.

Knowing that Jews do not take photos on Shabot [sabbath] or use electricity or even write [it's considered work] we were sure to take our photos before the Sabbath began, before sundown.

Mary and I outside the synagogue

Ophir showed us how to follow along in the books they use for the service, but we were pretty much lost the whole time. :) We tried.

What I liked most was listening to the singing and I clapped along with my hands when it was appropriate. I felt the spirit there. I love seeing how other people worship. Basically there is singing of Psalms, and some other passages of the Torah, there was a short "lesson" in the middle, and several prayers. It was not nearly as somber or serious as I had imagined it... perhaps conservative or orthodox services are more so that way.

We joked with Ophir, when he was telling us that the Shabot Service is longer than the rest because we have to welcome in Shabot, that nothing can compare to our LOooONG 3 hour services. He just laughed.

Our group... notice Ophir's son jumping out of this photo!

The people were really nice to us and thanked us for coming, most all of them spoke English. It was a pretty relaxed service, Ophir told us it's a pretty westernized group. He is much more Orthodox, in fact, he walked home because he does not drive on Shabot, whereas many of those in the congregation did and do.