visit to New Light (synagogue)
Dec. 16th, 2010 11:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cellioLast Friday I went to New Light, a small Conservative synagogue a block from my house. I've been there a few times and thought the people were friendly but the services didn't really speak to me. They hired a new rabbi a few months ago and I've heard good things about him, so I decided to satisfy my curiosity a little.
The service was more traditional than in the past, yet accessible. (A full-on Hebrew service like at YPS doesn't bother me, but if you don't know that most of your congregation is fluent, it might deter some.) They did all of the psalms in kabbalat shabbat, about half in English and half in Hebrew. The latter were all sung and I generally recognized the melodies and could join in. As in the past, the rabbi invited congregants (by name) to read parts in English. The rabbi spoke between kabbalat shabbat and ma'ariv about one of the psalms in kabbalat shabbat; I gather that he's spoken about most of the others (one at a time) on other nights. The talk was very interesting and I should really have made some notes sooner. Ma'ariv was pretty much what I'd expect anywhere on the traditional spectrum -- Hebrew, familiar melodies, individual amidah. I think they concluded with Adon Olam rather than Yigdal. They invited anybody who wanted to up onto the bima for kiddush (with individual cups of wine or juice).
I'd guess there were about 20-25 people there. They do a sit-down oneg after the service; somebody greeted me on the way into the room and invited me to sit with others, and the rabbi came and joined us. He was friendly and easy to talk with. We talked about his talk and ended up pulling out a tanach (bible) to look some things up. :-)
It was a positive experience. I would visit again.
The service was more traditional than in the past, yet accessible. (A full-on Hebrew service like at YPS doesn't bother me, but if you don't know that most of your congregation is fluent, it might deter some.) They did all of the psalms in kabbalat shabbat, about half in English and half in Hebrew. The latter were all sung and I generally recognized the melodies and could join in. As in the past, the rabbi invited congregants (by name) to read parts in English. The rabbi spoke between kabbalat shabbat and ma'ariv about one of the psalms in kabbalat shabbat; I gather that he's spoken about most of the others (one at a time) on other nights. The talk was very interesting and I should really have made some notes sooner. Ma'ariv was pretty much what I'd expect anywhere on the traditional spectrum -- Hebrew, familiar melodies, individual amidah. I think they concluded with Adon Olam rather than Yigdal. They invited anybody who wanted to up onto the bima for kiddush (with individual cups of wine or juice).
I'd guess there were about 20-25 people there. They do a sit-down oneg after the service; somebody greeted me on the way into the room and invited me to sit with others, and the rabbi came and joined us. He was friendly and easy to talk with. We talked about his talk and ended up pulling out a tanach (bible) to look some things up. :-)
It was a positive experience. I would visit again.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-17 09:37 pm (UTC)If we were in the same city I could take you, but we're not so I can't.