|
Temple Rodef Shalom by Donald Taylor |
|
I could tell, even before I entered the service, that this was a reformed synagogue. Mr. Ciotti explained their practice of reformed Judaism and how it related to the Orthodox and Conservative, but the practices did not clue me into their reformed faith before the Synagogue’s architecture did. The synagogue had an aura of serenity because of its seclusion in a nicely wooded, well-landscaped area. I walked up a huge flight of stone stairs, under an arch, and through an entryway with Hebrew inscriptions. The simple, contemporary style made me feel welcome and accepted. Glass walls surrounded most of the rooms, so as I walked down the front corridor I could see into the Library, gift shop, and even into the offices and reception room. Above me was a high ceiling with wooden vaults, not stone, which gave the rooms a lighter, more open feeling. Temple Rodef Shalom had almost no artwork except for a few ornate items in the gift shop like menorahs and little trinkets from Israel. They did have ornate artwork on the arks and Torah cases, which were colorful and had intricate designs. This helped make the Torahs and arks seem like the centers of attention. On this Sabbath the Temple had two services. The first, located in an upstairs worship hall, was celebrating Simchat Torah as well as a bar and bat mitzvah. I stayed briefly for the beginning of this service. The layout of this room reminded me of my church. They had three sections of pews, all facing a front altar style platform. To the left of the platform were a small organ and a little choir made up of four singers (two men, two women). The most notable difference between the layout of this service and my Christian services was that they had the Ark behind the altar, not a cross. The use of song struck me as an important part of this temple. They opened with a lively song (Tov L’hodot), filled with Halleluiahs. As the choir and congregation sang the Rabbi, cantors, and Mitzvah families processed down the center isle to take seats surrounding the front platform. The Rabbi, a female, proceeded with a greeting to the practitioners, in which she remarked on the holiday, the beautiful Hopa in the middle of the platform, and the bar/bat mitzvah. She then gave the mitzvah parents a minute to pray with their children (the parent’s prayer). They continued into the worship service as the children lead Hebrew recitations and cantors. At this point I slipped out the back to go downstairs for the other service. I felt more comfortable and got the most insight from the second service where I stayed for the remainder of my visit. This service consisted of the traditional Simchat Torah (no mitzvahs). In addition, the service hall was different than the first, located in a little meeting room downstairs. A semi-circle of chairs faced a long front table and podium where the Rabbi, this time a male, stood. Behind the Rabbi was a smaller less ornate ark. This service had a more exciting feeling yet it seemed like a relaxed, restrained excitement, quite different compared to the loud cantor and choir from the first service. I could see smiles on the congregation’s faces; this holiday obviously had significance for all the people there. The recitation of Hebrew verses in this service struck me as important by the way they read the verses. They did not just speak the verses allowed; the Rabbi sang the verses using a melodically complicated cantor melody. This not only showed an aptness with the Hebrew language and text but also a solid understanding of music and how to intertwine music with the text. The congregation recited these verses from a thin book called “The Gates of Prayer.” Mr. Ciotti showed me the Torah, the other book by my chair, and explained that the top section was Hebrew, which they read from right to left, and the middle section was an English translation. I noticed a large portion of text at the bottom and asked him about it. Mr. Ciotti showed how that section referenced the top of the page’s Hebrew section and explained the meaning of the Hebrew text; the bottom section was the Talmud. After the recitation from “The Gates of Prayer,” this service had a short Sermon. I noticed two important points during the sermon:
After the sermon the Rabbi came to the front of the room from his seat in the audience. He blessed and took two torahs from the ark. He then addressed the congregation and explained that everyone should join in the song and dance. A man went and started playing the piano while the congregation sang, in Hebrew. The Rabbi took one of the torahs, which remained covered, and a congregation member took another. They danced around the room as people joined in and followed the line. They handed the Torah around so everyone got a turn to dance with it. Maybe they thought I was Jewish or maybe I looked un-involved but for whatever reason one of the men yelled, “here is a man for the Torah and handed it to me.” I was somewhat taken aback by the gesture although I felt honored to dance with them and carry the Torah. They continued singing and dancing, I hummed along (not knowing Hebrew), until the rabbi and another member took the scrolls and laid them on the table. For the last portion of the service a young lady came to the front and read the last passages from the Torah (Deuteronomy). The Rabbi gave members an Aleinu, which was a chance to read from the torah and cantor a section of the text. After they finished Deuteronomy the Rabbi held up the Torah scroll in front of the congregation then with a little help rolled it up and covered it. He then uncovered the other Torah and the lady read from Genesis symbolizing the end of their Torah reading for the year and the start of a new reading at the beginning. They finished the service with the mourners Kaddish (mourner’s prayer) and a blessing of bread and wine before we left. The rabbi commented on these Kaddishes explaining that the mourner’s prayer is important to remember the dead and know the mourners in the congregation; furthermore, he mentioned how he likes the Kaddish over bread and wine because it gives the members a chance to meet and talk to one another. I did not know what the Torah meant to Jews until I attended this Synagogue: As I left many of the members greeted me saying, “Shabbat Shalom.” I smiled and nodded, completely unaware what the phrase meant and why they greeted me in this manor. I had a chance to stop the Rabbi on my way out to converse with him. He told me the meaning of this greeting. Now I understand a little more about what the Sabbath means. It is a time of peace and reflection where the Jews dedicate themselves to God through Cantors, Hebrew Verses, and readings from the Torah. All this is reflected in the short phrase Shabbat Shalom: Sabbath peace. Like the Torah, I think this phrase evokes a sense of peace, community, and connection, which Jews seek on the Sabbath. Shabbat Shalom. |
| Created by Laura Ellen Shulman |
Last updated: October 26, 2003
|