For
Shabbat this week, we went to different temples for services, and I went to one in Tel Aviv. It was a very
cool experience, and I really enjoyed the service. I did, however, notice
several differences in the way they prayed. The biggest difference was that
instead of saying “Adonai” when the text said “yud-hay-vav-hay,” they said
“Havayah,” which would be the literal reading of the word. The congregation
also chanted the Chatzi Kaddish before the Amidah, said “malcheinu” in
Hashkiveinu instead of “shomreinu,” stood for V’shamru, and did a different and
much longer Aleinu. Even though it was a reform congregation, a lot of prayers
and songs were sung differently, and it was absolutely fascinating.
In
addition to the learning experience, the service also helped me to realize something very important
about Judaism. We may speak different languages, live in different countries,
and do some things differently in our services, but we’re all Jews. We all pray
to the same God with the same words and messages, and that bonds us together.
Though some more conservative, Orthodox Jews may disagree, I think that our
similarities and connections bring us together, no matter how we say certain
words or when we stand during the service. I think that was why this service
was so special. It was very different from a service at my home congregation,
but at the same time, it was incredibly similar. Some melodies were different,
we used a different prayer book, and we were in a hotel rather than an actual synagogue,
but we were all just Jews praying together. And that’s very powerful.
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