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.