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cellioThursday night I went to my synagogue for Shavuot services and then Torah study. Our Shavuot evening service doubles as "confirmation" (10th grade), and the students write and lead the service. (Well, they don't change the key parts, but they add in a variety of readings that they wrote.) This year's group was fairly articulate. It was also rather smaller than the groups have been the past couple years. I don't know if that's a change in the number of people in that age group or the number of people who continue their religious education past bar mitzvah.
The Torah study afterwards was the smallest Shavuot study I've seen at Temple Sinai -- peak was about 15 people. It meant we had a nice intimate discussion and I enjoyed that; I don't think it's quite what the rabbi was planning, but he rolled with it.
Friday morning's service was in the chapel rather than the main sanctuary. I love that room. It was almost but not completely full, so it was the right call. Because the Reform movement only observes one day of holidays rather than two, the morning service included Yizkor. (This is a memorial prayer for ancestors, and also the martyrs of our people. It's said several times a year, at certain holidays.) I always feel a little weird sitting through Yizkor; I have no dead Jewish relatives, after all. In some congregations it's traditional for those with living parents to leave before Yizkor, but that's not true of my congregation.
Friday afternoon I read, napped, and practiced the Hebrew reading for Saturday. (SCA event, not synagogue.) Friday night, back for Shabbat services (with some exceptional singing from our cantor), then home to see Dani (awake) for the first time since Wednesday night.
Next year I should see if I can spend Shavuot afternoon with other people (whether I invite them for lunch or go elsewhere). It felt kind of lonely, and it's supposed to be a joyous holiday. Most Jews neglect this holiday somewhat to begin with; I should make more of an effort to hook up with those who don't so I can feel more a part of a community.
The Torah study afterwards was the smallest Shavuot study I've seen at Temple Sinai -- peak was about 15 people. It meant we had a nice intimate discussion and I enjoyed that; I don't think it's quite what the rabbi was planning, but he rolled with it.
Friday morning's service was in the chapel rather than the main sanctuary. I love that room. It was almost but not completely full, so it was the right call. Because the Reform movement only observes one day of holidays rather than two, the morning service included Yizkor. (This is a memorial prayer for ancestors, and also the martyrs of our people. It's said several times a year, at certain holidays.) I always feel a little weird sitting through Yizkor; I have no dead Jewish relatives, after all. In some congregations it's traditional for those with living parents to leave before Yizkor, but that's not true of my congregation.
Friday afternoon I read, napped, and practiced the Hebrew reading for Saturday. (SCA event, not synagogue.) Friday night, back for Shabbat services (with some exceptional singing from our cantor), then home to see Dani (awake) for the first time since Wednesday night.
Next year I should see if I can spend Shavuot afternoon with other people (whether I invite them for lunch or go elsewhere). It felt kind of lonely, and it's supposed to be a joyous holiday. Most Jews neglect this holiday somewhat to begin with; I should make more of an effort to hook up with those who don't so I can feel more a part of a community.
Shavuot with friends...
Date: 2002-05-20 09:33 am (UTC)I tend to leave during Yiskor, as it's my family's tradition to not stay when one doesn't have anyone in particular to say it for (parents, children, spouse). The way they put it, there will be enough times in my life when I will have to go, that since I don't now, I shouldn't.
Also, just wanted to say that I like the new userpic. Those are Lilacs, right? Lilacs are my third favorite thing in the universe.
lilacs
Date: 2002-05-20 11:09 am (UTC)Thanks. Yes, as far as I know those are lilacs. I'm pretty bad at flora identification. That picture is from a bush growing in my back yard, and they smell like lilacs to me. Aren't digital cameras great? I can experiment and get instant feedback without wasting film. For example, I don't feel at all bad that the pictures I took of the unknown bush with white flowers (near the lilac bush) didn't really work out.
Lilacs are my third favorite thing in the universe.
The whole universe? Wow. What are the first two?
Shavuot
Date: 2002-05-20 02:18 pm (UTC)Re: Shavuot
Date: 2002-05-20 02:33 pm (UTC)Of course, you're also always welcome to come to Pittsburgh for any holiday that doesn't require that I go to Toronto. (Currently that set consists of Pesach.)
Re: lilacs
Date: 2002-05-20 04:46 pm (UTC)Then they'll do for me! I love the way lilacs smell. Mmm... lilacs...
The whole universe? Wow. What are the first two?
Actually, that was a bit of a Babylon 5 reference (a character talks about his third-, second- and favorite thing in the universe).
Having backpedalled, I really do like lilacs. I dunno if they're really #3, but they're certainly among my favorite flowers (I also enjoy large groups of daffodils because then I can practice my rabble-rousing. Daffodils of the world, unite! You have nothing to loose but your chlorophyl!).