Welcome to Gaia! ::

Interesting differences there. I don't mean to be rude, but all those things really make more sense in my opinion than some of the more complicated (for lack of a better word) counterparts in Ashkenazim. Not that I don't have the utmost respect for those traditions as well.

I looked at different synagogues that are Sephardi in New York/Boston and they're all really big and pretty. Divash, do you go to a big and pretty Sephardi synagogue? Do they come more...modest?

(Quietly steps over the can of worms that was opened up)

The size has to do more with population density than modesty I believe. I've been to rather large Askenazi synagogues and tiny Sephardic synagogues.

The real difference is the culture of the Askenazi are based on Central and Eastern European traditions while Sephardi are based on the culture of Spain, Southern Europe and the Middle East.

Mizrachi Jews are very similar to Sephardi, except for a few customs involving Minhag and Nusach, which has to do more with the organization of prayers than anything else.

All things considered, Askenazi jews have a more euro-centric view of modesty and Sephardic and Mizrachi are more Mediterranean flair, especially when it comes to food, dress, decorations and housekeeping.

It all boils down to cultural custom than religion.

Exodus 22:20 “You shall not wrong a stranger, nor oppress him, for you were strangers in Egypt.”

If I happen to be in a household which people of a different religion say grace or make a prayer to another god, (which having a pagan sister, isn't so out of this world for me) I try to figure out the Jewish equivalent and say it quietly to myself. If I am at wedding or funeral and the pastor says "in Christ's name we say Amen" I will say something under my breath, a mumble of words that say anything BUT amen, however to the onlookers I'm not making a scene, I'm not doing anything wrong, I'm not insulting their religion openly, I just didn't say the word loud enough for anyone to hear what I said exactly. Most of the time, especially if I'm not feeling it, I don't say anything. I just shut up and watch.

I mean, it's rude and very bad manners to call someone out for praying to Christ in their own home, regardless of the guest list as well as it's bad manners to jump on someone for not saying "Amen" after a prayer.

kingpinsqeezels:
My synagogue is Sephardi/Mizrachi, and our rabbi is the Sephardic dayan of the city (and also a descendant of the Rambam -- Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, also known as Maimonides), so his m'sorah (tradition) is that of the Jewish community in Egypt. In other words, though I've never been to Africa, I'm an African Jew. The congregation isn't large, but most of the members do attend on a weekly or daily basis, rather than just on the holidays, so it's always full of folks. Slowly it's being remodeled. They did the men's section, now they're doing the front facade, I think the women's section will come next, and eventually the social hall and classrooms and bathrooms will probably get an update. In other words, it's about 1/3 pretty right now, and the other 2/3 are in some serious need of a makeover.

mazuac:
If we're at a non-Jew's table, eating non-kosher food, we really have no right to get irritated at anyone praying to other deities. If you come to OUR table and we pray our Jewish prayers, and you follow them up with "In J's name, amen," it's irritating. We don't pray in someone else's name; we come to Hashem directly, no intermediary, and we don't hide from Hashem by putting someone else in front of us to take the blame if we've done something wrong. We answer for ourselves.

Your grandparents, who are Jewish, are probably very sad that you're praying Christian prayers, but they love you so much that they're willing to hide the pain they feel that their children and grandchildren have been lost to the traditions of Judaism and the people of Israel. How would you feel, as a Christian, if your children -- your legacy to the world -- invited you to their Thanksgiving feast and began praying to Shiva or the Green Man or Allah? They wouldn't be praying "...and we repudiate J- and all he stood for..." but they would be demonstrating that they'd cast off the spiritual heritage you tried to give them and the values you tried to impart to them. Your grandparents almost assuredly feel the same way.

I wouldn't care. I actually would be pleased to find someone who also made a blessing over their food as well as me. Most of the people I know are aethiest/unitarian.

Yes, that's what it means.

Well, you were warned, Behatzlacha-S. Highlighting was your choice.

Very true Behatz.

I have some very interesting news. This year at Thanksgiving we prayed solely to G-d. Very odd in my opinion considering every prayer I have ever heard since I can remember (amongst my family) has ended in "in Jesus's name we pray". I wonder if they're on to my no pork eating ways...