A Shabbat service to remember
For Shabbat we were given the option of going to an Orthodox synagogue for services. I was sure it would be boring but I thought, when would I be able to attend Shabbat services at an Orthodox synagogue in Israel again? So I, along with 5 other young women in my group, decided to go.
I also wasn't sure how I'd feel about the separation of the men and women. Coming from the States, that is a big no-no and offensive to many people. Normally I'd include myself in that group, but after experiencing it, I feel the opposite.
My first impression when we arrived was how unassuming it was. If I hadn't been told it was a synagogue, I would've walked right past it none the wiser. BUt fortunately I did enter and I am so thankful I did.
We walked through the doors, and the first thing I saw was a group of children playing with mothers sitting quietly on couches. Then we walked into the women's section and sat down. The music was already beginning. I looked around and felt a sense of belonging I'd been longing for the entire trip. As the singing continued, I felt more and more connected to my Judaism and even to my fellow women. We walked up to the front of the room and saw the men singing and dancing, just as the women. I couldn't believe I was actually happy with the separation!
My Hebrew is sparse; I know a few basic words and cannot converse in Hebrew at all. But the music transcended the limitations of language. I felt it deep inside my heard and body. It resonated inside me in an unbelieveable way. I could not stop smiling! And we got up and danced (though there was hardly any roon, we made it work) and connected and prayed and bonded in a way that words cannot describe. I can honestly say it had an intense and profound affect on my life. I cannot remember the last time I smiled that hard and wide for that long. Yael, an Israeli traveling with our group, was brought near tears seeing me as happy as I was. Seeing everything through my eyes made her re-realize how special it is for her all over again.
From now on, I fully intend to go to synagogue on Shabbat and practice Judaism more religiously. That is not to say I plan on becoming an Orthodox Jew. This is not conducive to my lifestyle nor the life I plan on leading in the future. I will, however, find what suits me and practice as such. Judaism is not about where you choose to worship or following the Torah to a "T"...it is about finding out what it means to you and going for it. This Shabbat service, the love and connection to other Jews and Jewish women, changed my life. I look forward to returning to Chicago and adapting my renewed love of Judaism to my life there. I am so very thankful for this intense, life-changing experience.
By Stephanie Jones
