Next step

In an earlier post (March 10, 2009), I'd expressed doubts about joining the synagogue. Then a couple weeks ago I realized that I felt at home there. I've attended functions for over 2 years (even the latke frying brigade), and actually look forward to the services. Figured it's time to pay for my share of the light bill. So now it's official, announced in both the newsletter and at Friday night services. I'm the newest member of B'nai Israel Synagogue.

Not only that, but actual conversion may be more likely. There are enough people interested in it that the student rabbi will be leading a class directed toward conversion (as opposed to the previous 'intro' classes) and will arrange for a 'real' rabbi to make the several-hundred mile trip to take care of the formalities.

Now I know that the Reform movement doesn't require immersion, although it has become more popular in the past couple decades, but I feel I'd be missing something if I didn't take a dip. There are a couple mikvahs 300 miles away in Minneapolis, and Chabad has one in Winnipeg, but I don't know how open they'd be to Reform conversions. Of course, it the weather cooperates, we maybe could find an acceptable (and modestly secluded) body of natural water. Oh well. I guess we can jump off that bridge when we come to it.

Why am I still doing this?

By "this" I mean doing Jewish stuff. I don't know. But whenever I attend services, I always feel better afterward.

Still here

My writing here, as well as on by other bogs/journals, has been curtailed the pat several months because, frankly, typing is not easy for me. I never learned to type properly, using only 4 of the available digits, have to look at the keys, and wear bifocals. Plus, the keyboard with the new computer has the keys inconveniently placed. Still getting the hang of voice recognition.

When we left off, Pesach was approaching. The social hall at the synagogue was bursting with attendees for the community seder. Several of the people there live quite a distance away (60+ miles) so don't get to regular services.

The food was amazing. I admit to some trepidatiion abut the gefilte fish, not being much of a seafood person, but I actually had seconds. I was intrigued by the horseradish of a different color. The person who prepared the main courses converted 4 years ago after catering a dinner at the synagogue and finding she liked being around these folks.

Even with close to 70 people in the hall (did I mention it's a small building) everyone got a chance to read a passage from the Haggadah.

Attending a seder is something I've wanted to do for years, and I'm glad to have finally taken the opportunity.

Since then, I haven't had a chance to get to any services. They've only had maybe 3 or 4 this summer, one during a tornado. (The congregatin for that one consisted of the leader, 6 members of one family, and 2 Lutherans who just stopped in out of curiosity. )

I've been able to get to some of the basic Hebrew reading classes. They happen sporadically depending on who's free that evening. We take a section of the Bible, and take turns reading a verse in Hebrew, then in English, then we have cake.

This fall we get a new student rabbi, but this time it will be the old one - the one who was there when I first took that class 2 years ago. Aparently she didn't get enough of North Dakota winters the first time, and needs a reason to get out of Cincinnatti for a few days each month. Looking forward to visiting with her again.

Yes, this post has been pretty superficial. I do have deeper thoughts, but not what I can organize into print at the moment. That will have to wait for a later post.

Getting Multicultural

Today our office held a Mexican-style pot luck. I brought matzos.

What... There's Jews in Mexico.

There are not, however, any Jews (and darn few Mexicans) among the 200 employees where I work. There's a Muslim over in sales, and the guy who sits next to me is married to a non-practicing Jew, but that's it.

I do what I can to expand my co-workers' cultural awareness. Last spring we were decorating the office, and everyone else was cutting out paper eggs and bunnies to hang over their cubicles. I cut out hammentaschen. In December, my computer wallpaper alternated various menorahs (and one shot of the Grinch -- I've worked in retail customer service for 20 years and have developed a real dislike for the season.) And I kvetch with abandon.

So --- Passover begins tonight at Sunset. I'll be attending the community Seder at B'nai Israel tomorrow night. Getting kind of excited, it being my first time. I'm afraid, though, that after a week of matzoh I'll need 4 cups of prune juice instead of 4 cups of wine.

Matzo, matzo man.....

So, here it is a few days before Pesach, and I'm getting excited. Went to Target the other day and bought 5 pounds of matzoh. (They didn't have any single boxes, just 5-box shrink-wrapped bundles. ). I'd never tried matzoh before, and find I rather enjoy it.

Next Thursday is the Seder at the synagogue, and this will be another first for me. I've been reading up so I'll know what to expect. (See this extremely clever Facebook - style Haggadah)

Celebrating Passover here has its share of challenges. I know last year someone went to Minneapolis (300 miles) to obtain kosher lamb bones. This year one of the members is planning to make gefilte fish for the community seder, and has to go to Winnipeg (150 miles and an international border) for ingredients. I don't know if she made it, what with all the roads closed by the floods. With the river so high, you can't fish for gefilte around here. And what would we use for bait? There's not a decent bagel in the entire state.

Most of the congregation here are Reform or liberal Conservative, and I don't know how fussy they get about chametz. We're having a drive for the local food pantry, but will be putting the donations in the upstairs closet to keep it away from the dining hall. Being a Goy, I'm not bound by that mitzvah, so don't have to worry about disposing of my 8 boxes of Girl Scout cookies. Still, I think I'll try to follow the diet just to see if I can.

In other news, I got a copy of Jewish Literacy the other day, and am totally engrossed. A veritable Encyclopaedia Judaica - 800 pages of logically arranged references. It has 1-2 pages on each topic. Here's an Excerpt.

To join or not to join…

… That is the question. I've been wondering if it's time for me to become a member of the synagogue.

This weekend at the Purim party, the head of the membership committee gave his usual recruiting talk. "The synagogue needs the money, and while we welcome our guests, we encourage everyone to join, even those who are here just for multicultural enrichment." Thing is, every time he gives that speech he looks right at me.

Have I mentioned that I'm not Jewish?

I'm really having internal issues with whether I should join the synagogue or not. It's only $350, so I can certainly afford it, and they really do need every dollar they can get. But joining a synagogue makes a certain statement, a sort of commitment, that I'm not entirely sure I'm ready to make.

At a lot of synagogues they require prospective members to be a Jewish, or at least firmly into the conversion process. I don't think they're that fussy on that issue here. But I'm still in the process of exploring Judaism, and have not yet decided if this is the path that I will take.

I do enjoy attending the functions, I try to follow along with the services, and I'm even taking Hebrew lessons. The members of the congregation couldn't be more welcoming, even though I do have a hard time socializing with 'normal' people. And I feel a little disingenuous using a portion of the heat and lights without paying my fair share. (To assuage my guilt I've made a small donation to the general fund.)

The question, however, remains… Should an undecided, insecure, unattached, and slightly eccentric gentile join a synagogue?

Comments are encouraged. Thank you.

The Velveteen Rabbi

While on a nostalgic Google trip of childhood memories, I stumbled upon what looks like an interesting blog - "The Velveteen Rabbi". Haven't had a chance to read it in depth yet, but have added it to the Bologs of Interest list in the right-hand margin.

Purim 5769

Tonight was the Purim party at B'nai Israel. Since the story takes place in Persia, I came in my Middle Eastern garb and felt slightly overdressed. The only other adults who were in what could be considered a costume was young woman wearing a renaissance dress and a pair of ceramic horns, and the student rabbi as an angel in a miniskirt. Most of the other adults went with the sweat shirt and funny hat motif.

The children, who nearly outnumbered the adults, sported a variety of disguises ranging from a penguin to a Hogwart's student, and at least three espionage agents. One of the members, who is a volunteer fireman, wore his fireman suit. Almost thought we'd need his services during Havdala because the candle flame was getting pretty big and the cheerleader's pompoms were getting a little close.

There was a lot of food, as is usual in these celebrations, but last year there was wine. There wasn't any wine this year. Maybe that's a good thing… last year I did get just a bit tiddly.

Where do I fit in?

OK, here's a fresh one.

I have to admit, the local synagogue has made me feel welcome. Even got my picture in the newsletter - twice. (I'm the guy with the spatula and the surprised look.) I have a good time when we get together at a member's home to try reading Hebrew. And most of the time when I go to services I'm glad I went. Still, I have a feeling of hesitation before going to activities there. Something keeps reminding me I'm not Jewish, and its unlikely I ever will *be* Jewish. And then that makes me wonder why I'm so interested in Judaism in the first place.

Last week, I was looking forward to going to Friday night service. It was one of the weeks the student rabbi was in town, and it was to be a short service followed by an observance of Tu B'Sheveat. (Never mind that Tu B'Shevat was a week ago - when you have services only onece a month some adjustment is necessary.) But Friday, as sunset approached, I began to feel uneasy. I managed to find other things to keep my busy until it was too late, then felt guilty. Honestly, it felt just like in high school, when I avoided school parties because I felt like I didn't belong. I don't know what's up with that. Guess I've always felt uneasy in social situations.

I suppose the usual advice would be to talk with the rabbi, but there isn't one. We get a seminary student for maybe two days a month, and her schedule is always pretty full. I really don't know any of the congregants well enough to talk with about something this personal, especially when I have a hard time describing it. And the only Jewish friends I have that I would feel comfortable with live far far away and I see them 2-3 times a year.

*sigh* The next thing at the synagogue is the Purim party. That gives me a couple weeks to stew.

Advantages of a small synagogue.

Oct. 18th, 2008

There are some disadvantages to a small congregation, such as not having a rabbi, and barely being able to cover expenses, but there are some good points too.

Ours is one of only two synagogues in the state, having about 30 members, and services happen maybe 1-2 times a month. Today was the first Saturday service they'd had about 2 years, led by a member of the congregation I'll call Victor, because that is his name. Besides Victor, there were 5 people in attendance. One was me, who's barely getting started in Judaism, and two others were boys age 6 and 11.

Today, Victor explained, we hit the Trifecta, observing three holidays at once (since we meet so seldom). We did a bit for Sukkot, and for Shemini Atzeret, then for Simchat Torah Victor pointed out the advantage of a small congregation. Everybody, even the Goy (me), came up to the bimah, and everyone had a Torah scroll to carry. There were a couple small scrolls (1920 vintage) for the youngsters, and there was even one left over. When it came time to read from Genesis two more people had arrived, so everyone got to read a day of creation. (Is it standard practice for a non-Jew to carry a Torah scroll?)

After the service, we retired to the Sukkah a block away at Victor's house, everyone fit inside, and took turns shaking the Lulav and Etrog.

I think I got more out of today's service than the other 5 I've attended, in large part because Victor explained just about everything we were doing. And I was able to take an active part, rather than just tying to mumble along in my non-existant Hebrew.

That's all. Just felt like sharing. (Hebrew lessons start next week.)

I have strange friends

LJ post Dec. 26th, 2007
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Back on Dec 5, M. asked if I had to work on the 25th. I told her I was free, and that's the last was said about it.

Christmas day I had nothing planned. In the morning I puttered around in my jammies listening to Klezmer music. About 1:00 I went to shovel snow at the 4-plex, as it was the first chance all week. On the way home I drove past both the Chinese buffets, and noted how full the parking lots were, especially considering how few Jews there are here. Chinese on Christmas must be gaining cross-culture popularity, possibly due to A Christmas Story.

About 2:30 I was getting ready to pop in a DVD and open a can of chow mien when M. called telling me to come over at 4:00 - they had something special planned "with the greatest of love." That had me worried. She wanted to recognize my recent study of the Jewish faith. That had me *realy* worried.

So I get to their house, walk through the door, and onto my head plops a green felt yarmulke with red holly berries. On the fridge was a revised menu, with things like ham and lobster crossed out, replaced with brisket and matzo balls, (We really had turkey, etc), and the wine was accompanied by a sugar bowl.

I wasn't unprepared. In recognition of M's Catholic upbringing, I gave her a Nun Bowling set. Also left her my copy of Judaism for Dummies.

Starch and Grease. Yummy!

From LJ Dec. 10th, 2007
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While most of my SCA friends were in Milwaukee, I was making new friends while having fun chopping potatoes and onions for the B’nai Israel Hanukkah Party. Good time bonding with the men's latke frying brigade.

Everyone was saying what a good turnout there was - about 40 grownups and a dozen kids. Lots and lots of food, all yummy. And at least 4 menorahs on each table. With all the candles and hot oil, I was afraid the fire department would show up. And thanks to the Interwebs, I was able to sing along with the Hanukkah carols.

New Experience

As mentioned below, I'm reposting some old LJ entries to get things started. This one is from Nov. 16th, 2007.
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I was raised Presbyterian, but aside from weddings and funerals, I haven't attended any sort of religious observance since 1988. Tonight I went to Shabbat service.

A number of times, I found myself thinking "ok, what just happened?" Id been to a Latin mass once, and didn't understand that either. But I guess the important part is that most of the congregation did. (Of particular note was that the half-dozen children were out-singing the adults, and in harmony.)

It so happened that there were also some comparative religion students there on what I guess you'd call a field trip. After the service, I kibbitzed in the Q&A with the students and a couple of the members and found that to be most informative.

Tomorrow is the Basic Judaism class. I should make a list of things to ask.

Mmmmmm. There's some bean and barley stew in the crock pot for tomorrow. Smells yummy.

Judism in the Sticks

I'm not Jewish - yet. This will be a place to blog about my experience exploring Judaism in a small Midwestern city. There's a "Conserviform" synagogue here with about 30 families, but no rabbi, and the next nearest is 90 miles away.

I'm s single man in my 50's. I grew up on a farm in a predominantly Lutheran area, and was raised Presbyterian. I've long had an interest in Judaism, and took an Intro to Judaism class and began attending services a bit over a year ago.

I've occasionally posted about this on my Livejournal, and will be re-posting some of those here just to get things started