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 Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 6:58 pm
I actually had never fasted before because of some health problems that have been giving me problems for a decade or two, but I'm finally elgible.
I started fasting around 8pm and promptly went to bed.
In the morning, I got SYNAGOGUE SWITCH'D. The Temple I've been going to since I was a baby, the place where I had my Bar Mitzvah, the place that subscribes me with super awesome Reform Judasim magazine quarterlies...
We're not going there anymore. Maybe never again.
I found out only the night before, my parents felt bad about it.
We can't really afford the annual membership and we only use it for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, even though 've said we should go there more often..
So I went with my family to a Church for Yom Kippur. We're now a part of a free synagogue that meets in a Church. Well, just for the High Holidays. They usually meet in a Jewish facility that's closer by, but...
I expected it to be too Reform for this Reform Jew who's really a Conservative Jew at heart, but I guess it was alright..
I did not watch Television, use the computer, or really use anything electronic besides lights. I did my best to only wash up to the knuckles, the second knuckles anyway, though with the ol' OCD and whatnot...
I did, however, handle money, engage in idle games and puzzles for fun, sing songs, and not really repent at all.
I found thirst more difficult than hunge. Yes, I did manly fasting with no water. Except I did have my little-known Mishnah- certified food in the quantity of a large date and cheekful of water. And I also forgot I was fasting for a second at one point and had another pretty huge gulp of water...
I ended my fast before Sundown at 7pm because my mom advised that I should and I was hungry. I ate Unkosher food because I just love the taste of Beef and Milk together...
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 3:46 am
No one is perfect.
It's the thought that counts. You obviously abstained from things you enjoy and usually spend your time doing and you put forth the effort to fast. That's probably more than oh...75% of the Jewish population did. biggrin Congratulations!
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 7:18 am
I think you did great but the word "Boychick" made me laugh.
I think you did great, you can only be judged against yourself and you tried. Go you!
P.S. Sorry about the shul thing, it bugs me that the most important days a shul should try to get people to come to shul they charge the most money. It seems counterproductive.
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 8:29 am
ScionoftheBlade Sorry about the shul thing, it bugs me that the most important days a shul should try to get people to come to shul they charge the most money. It seems counterproductive. That's because at a lot of synagogues, that's the only times 90% of the population shows up. That's what it was like at my first synagogue. Ten to twenty people would show up regularly; another fifty or so, at most, would show up for a bat/bar mitzvah (and only if they brought their classmates as a weird kind of show-and-tell). Then suddenly on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we'd have 2000 people, each claiming to their long-lost friends that "We've missed you here from week to week!" as if they were there all the time, and I assure you, as someone who WAS there every single time they opened their doors, that those people were absolutely not there from week to week. They have to charge for tickets because all the once-a-year folks need to pay their share for building maintenance and such; the people who pay for year-round memberships get tickets automatically, because they're already supporting the synagogue with their presence and with their funds, so the rabbi's not going to go hungry and the water and electric bills aren't going unpaid. Second synagogue: Maybe 300 people from week to week. About 350 for RH and YK, and most of the visitors were just family members coming back to see relatives and/or home from university. Everyone's a paid member but for a tiny handful who know the drill and will pay for their ticket. They see you at the door, they check your name on a list, but they don't write anything down. You're in. I've never seen anyone turned away for not having a ticket, though. Current synagogue: RH and YK look exactly like every other week. The same people show up, or don't show up, all the time. Everyone is a paid member year-round. But if a person doesn't have the ability to pay, they certainly don't turn you away. No one even asks to see your ticket. You just go in, and they know you're there to pray. If later on, you do get the ability, you send a contribution to the synagogue.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 8:41 am
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"The shul I go to is very quiet most of the year, apart from Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. And then at RH and YK, it sure does get busy.
Although I don't go every week, my family and I do try and go as much as possible." ---------------------------------------------- --------------ωσσℓιє
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:20 am
I'm aware of the need for shul's to keep funding so they can stay open. I was lamenting reality not condemning it.
I know in my father's shul if you didn't buy a seat you wouldn't have where to daven as the place is simply jammed.
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:43 pm
I have to explain this all the time. Christians think that because synagogues sell "tickets" for the high holidays that somehow there is some sort of financial gain involved for the rabbi and clergy. I quickly remind them of Christmas/Easter/Ash Wednesday and they quieten down.
At church we had offering plates that they passed around during service, with everyone watching. I might be mistaken, but as far as I know most synagogues would have nothing like that. I'm sure people wouldn't give as much to the church if everyone wasn't looking to see who the good Christians were. That's just what I think.
...Unless of course you go to a megachurch like the one in my hometown where to become a member you have to submit a copy of your tax return so they know how much you should be tithing....
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 4:26 pm
Divash ScionoftheBlade Sorry about the shul thing, it bugs me that the most important days a shul should try to get people to come to shul they charge the most money. It seems counterproductive. That's because at a lot of synagogues, that's the only times 90% of the population shows up. That's what it was like at my first synagogue. Ten to twenty people would show up regularly; another fifty or so, at most, would show up for a bat/bar mitzvah (and only if they brought their classmates as a weird kind of show-and-tell). Then suddenly on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we'd have 2000 people, each claiming to their long-lost friends that "We've missed you here from week to week!" as if they were there all the time, and I assure you, as someone who WAS there every single time they opened their doors, that those people were absolutely not there from week to week. They have to charge for tickets because all the once-a-year folks need to pay their share for building maintenance and such; the people who pay for year-round memberships get tickets automatically, because they're already supporting the synagogue with their presence and with their funds, so the rabbi's not going to go hungry and the water and electric bills aren't going unpaid. Ah, so sad.. but so true. People shouldn't have to pay for tickets, but in reality they do. They have to for practical reasons. Elsewise the synagogue goes into debt and goes belly- up... It is a necessary annoyance. Well, not at my new Synagogue, but there's no constant building to maintain and no clergy gets paid. The whole thing is volunteer, with some donations... It felt good to write 'My new Synagogue.'
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:45 am
kingpinsqeezels At church we had offering plates that they passed around during service, with everyone watching. I might be mistaken, but as far as I know most synagogues would have nothing like that. Exactly right -- no synagogue would ever do that, because handling money is forbidden on Shabbat.
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Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:52 am
Divash kingpinsqeezels At church we had offering plates that they passed around during service, with everyone watching. I might be mistaken, but as far as I know most synagogues would have nothing like that. Exactly right -- no synagogue would ever do that, because handling money is forbidden on Shabbat. On Purim and Ta'anis Esther there aren't a million Tzedakah boxes going around your shul?
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Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 2:29 pm
I've done Yom Kippor at a church before.
The temple I went to when I was growing up, did not expand as fast as the Jewish Community.
Temple had seating for 400 people, and 350 families makes tight quarters. Especially with no youth center or JCC.
So we took over the episcopal church up the street.
One year we did it at the High School.
Hey the difference between a Auditorium and a Sanctuary is subject to change depending on the religious views of the audience.
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 7:19 am
ScionoftheBlade Divash kingpinsqeezels At church we had offering plates that they passed around during service, with everyone watching. I might be mistaken, but as far as I know most synagogues would have nothing like that. Exactly right -- no synagogue would ever do that, because handling money is forbidden on Shabbat. On Purim and Ta'anis Esther there aren't a million Tzedakah boxes going around your shul? Of course, but that's not on Sabbath or any other non-work holiday. Also, the air of festivity is so raucous and joyous that no one really notices who is and isn't dropping coins into the boxes.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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