visit to Young Peoples Synagogue

[cellio]

Every week I walk past Young Peoples Synagogue on my way to my synagogue, so this week I decided to visit them instead. They're a lay-led Orthodox congregation.

When I got there they were doing mincha (silent Amidah, so not too late). There was no mechitza and no other women were present. All the men (about a dozen) were sitting in the pews on the far side of an aisle, so I sat on the near side at the end farthest from the aisle while trying to figure out where I was supposed to sit. A couple minutes later one of the men came over to do something to the memorial plaques on the wall near me, so I asked if it was ok for me to sit there and he said yes. A couple minutes later someone came around with copies of Yedid Nefesh for kabblat shabbat and he didn't seem to have any problem with me being there either. (I moved a few seats over as things progressed.)

(I don't particularly obsess over things like this; I'm just reporting.)

The siddur they use is Birnbaum, and they had copies in the pew racks, so no hunting around for one like I had to do at Young Israel. I don't know Birnbaum well (have used it; haven't studied it), but I found it easier to use than Artscroll. (Maybe I should acquire one.) When we got to the end of mincha a different leader took over (they passed the tallit) and we went straight into kabbalat shabbat. (I don't now remember if we started with Yedid Nefesh, but it was early. I vaguely recognized the melody, kinda sorta, but didn't know it.)

As I've come to expect from traditional services, all the psalms in kabbalat shabbat were sung with that mix of starting together melodically and then dropping into a quiet personal recitation until the leader picks it up a sentence or so from the end (then repeat with the next one). The melody for the first half of L'cha Dodi was familiar, but then they switched midway through to a different one (I understand that's not uncommon when doing all nine verses), and the second was harder to follow but I muddled through.

The rest of the service proceeded normally, efficient but not rushed. It's refreshing to pray in a community where no cues are necessary; people know when to stand, sit, turn around, etc and what page we're on. It's nice to be among the fluent. :-) The service ended with kiddush and Yigdal (not Adon Olam). I didn't note the time when we transitioned from mincha to kabbalat shabbat, but I got there at about 6:25 and we finished at 7:15.

Afterward some people greeted me (and vice-versa), and one asked if I was visiting. I said I live a couple blocks away and decided to come meet them; he said Friday night it's usually "just the guys" and I should come Shabbat morning when everyone comes. I thanked him and said I have a Shabbat morning minyan I'm fond of but I'd be back sometime. He asked where, I said Temple Sinai, and he said something like "hey, that's fine", which felt a little odd to me but I don't think he meant it unkindly or anything. I guess they're not used to getting Reform Jews walking in, especially ones who are fluent in the service?

I expect to visit them on Friday nights occasionally, especially when my congregation is doing some special service or other that doesn't appeal. I'm not likely to skip the morning minyan to go somewhere else without a really good reason, but there are times when our minyan doesn't meet (like when yom tov is on Shabbat), so I'll certainly keep YPS in mind for that. And I may just decide to go on a field trip some week; I'm curious in particular about the role women play there. (No mechitza? And women give divrei torah according to their web site. Anything else?)

Comments

[530nm330hz.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear it was comfortable and welcoming.

In Lecha Dodi, when the words transition more into the theme of "Don't just mourn for J'lem but be confident that it will be rebuilt" we usually switch from whatever strophic melody we've been using into a more through-composed section. I've got cues for it in my siddur but I didn't write out the whole thing.

My synagogue will probably be deaccessioning most of our Birnbaums soon; we're switching to the Koren/Sacks as our "non-Artscroll" option. I'll find out if I can buy one for you cheap if you'd like.

Ending Shabbat Arvit with Yigdal is standard practice in Conservative and Orthodox shuls, at least in this country. Kiddush is not always done in Orthodox shuls (since the origin of doing kiddush in shul is from when visitors would have their Shabbat dinner in the shul; Kiddush is supposed to be said where you're going to eat so if everyone is going to go home and make kiddush where they're going to eat, what's the point of doing it in shul? Is there a chance that we're making a beracha levatelah?

[cellio]

Thanks for the information. I hadn't picked up on the connection between melodic change and thematic change in L'cha Dodi.

I'd be interested in getting one of your Birnbaums if available. Thanks!

Kiddush is supposed to be said where you're going to eat so if everyone is going to go home and make kiddush where they're going to eat, what's the point of doing it in shul? Is there a chance that we're making a beracha levatelah?

A good question. Is it the same question as "why have a chazan's repetition of the Amidah if everyone is capable of doing his own?"? I assume that in both cases "just in case" trumps the risk of a blessing made in vain. (Do you have to eat an entire meal for the kiddush to not be in vain, or can you protect against a beracha levatelah by having bread in shul before people go home? Not that they did; I'm just wondering about the possibility.)

[mbarr.livejournal.com]

A) You should look at the new Koren/Sacks's. You might like it, many people do, as different from the artscroll.

B) I'm betting they use a portable screen for a mechitza. I'm actually kinda shocked they didn't just set it up when you came in, despite the fact that it would seem very offensive. Go them. On the other hand, it would depend on the geography of the shul. I'd expect a gabbai, or someone to drop out, and set one up, especially between the services.

C) the slight surprise at the temple sinai thing is pretty much just surprise. I would *not* expect laity from a Reform shul to be able to deal w/ that kind of service. I'd be surprised for most conservative shul goers. You've got a minimal percentage of Conservative folks that can do it, and it's very rare in the Reform world. Very.



They sound pretty nice, and they probably do have a mechitza stuffed away in the corner, that they put up when it's needed. The downside to portable ones are that they are higher than the ones the shul might otherwise use, since you can get full height portable screens easily, but not so easily acquire half height ones.

It might be a pole & curtain affiar, though, so, again, hard to setup in the middle of davening. I'd have to keep them in mind for a shabbos in Pitt. Hmm... Might make an interesting post pennsic option- hmmmmm.

[cellio]

Thanks for the siddur recommendation. Next time I'm at the bookstore I'll take a look.

I presume that any fear of giving offense by setting up a mechitza would have vanished when I asked someone about it, but yeah, it was nice that no one seemed disturbed.

If you're ever in Pittsburgh, you'd probably enjoy visiting them (based on this one exposure and what I know about you, which isn't a huge amount).

[cjsherwood.livejournal.com]

If you end up with a Birnbaum that's available inexpensively I, too, would be interested.

Many thanks!