I have to attend a service from another religion, for school. What to expect if I go to a Jewish service?

Question

For my World Religions class, one of our assignments is to attend a service from a religion that we weren't raised in. I could go to a Muslim, Hindu or Jewish service because we have those temples/mosques in our area. I am thinking about going to a Jewish service and I am wondering what to expect. Will I stick out like a sore thumb, is there a lot of interaction? Or can I sit in the back quietly and blend in? I'm really shy and I don't want any attention, I just have to observe. I don't want to call the place and ask them this question, because I'm shy. So I hope someone can tell me what to expect at the service? Thank you. :)

Answer 1

It depends what service you go to (fyi you asked this on a Jewish holiday so you won't get answers from Orthodox people)
because Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform services are very different. There are also three different kind of services, morning afternoon/night. The afternoon/night one is actually two different ones, but since they're short, they kind of shmoosh them together in a certain way like this: you go to the afternoon service, take a break and have a snack or something, go back and have the evening service once the sun is set.

Anyways. It gets more complicated from here--only on certain days, they read from the Torah and then the services are much longer.

If you go to an Orthodox service, they are usually a lot more formal (you will have to dress nicely, in a skirt if you're a female and dress pants and shirt and suit jacket if you're a guy) and most of it is in Hebrew. Their services also tend to be longer for instance the morning Shabbat service (where they read from the Torah) can be 3-4 hours long depending on what time of the year it's on. The men and women sit separately and if you're a guy, you will have to wear a kippah. Outside the actual praying area (this is in pretty much all synagogues) there will be a case of prayer books and you are to take one if you want to follow along. This is fine to do.)

In Conservative synagogues there is less Hebrew but still a good amount, you still have to dress up nicely and you'll be asked to cover your head if you're a guy and sometimes if you're a girl...the services are usually shorter than Orthodox and men and women sit together.

In Reform, most of it is in Hebrew, and you have the choice whether to cover your head or not.

In all of these services, you can sit in the back and just play monkey see monkey do with the standing and sitting (or just sit and watch if you want to, you'll be fine) but expect to be greeted at the end of the service in a really friendly way by people who are curious about why you're there, especially in an Orthodox synagogue since they're usually so tight-knit and they know the minute a new face walks in. They will be happy to have you.

Actually, since you're shy, the best thing you could do would be to pluck up your courage and call the synagogue's rabbi. It will make do for a better visit and then you won't have to keep explaining why you are there. I am shy too, I understand :-)

To add to the above answer, the college Jewish union is called a Hillel. They would also be able to help you out a lot.

Answer 2

This is probably a really good opportunity to work on coping with your shyness. Most synagogues will be happy to welcome you as a visitor and being able to talk with the rabbi and other people will help you understand what you've experienced.

In many synagogues, there will be someone near the entrance to welcome you and hand you a prayer book. If you're a young man, take a kippah / yarmulke so you can cover your head. Sit in the middle.* Stand up and sit down when everyone else does. If the synagogue is Reform or Reconstructionist, the prayer book should have English as well as Hebrew so you can follow along. If it's Orthodox or Conservative, just sit back and go with the flow.

Friday evening services are shorter than Saturday morning and are a good place to start. Expect LOTS of singing / chanting, and some quiet. Maybe a short talk, depending on the synagogue's practice.

Afterwards, people wish each other a Gut Shabbes (Yiddish for Good Sabbath) or Shabbat Shalom (Hebrew for Peaceful Sabbath).

Don't worry, you'll be fine. Just relax and enjoy the beauty of the service.

Answer 3

I understand being shy and hesitant. However, I think it's best that you do phone the rabbi beforehand. S/He will be able to give you advice and information that is beyond what will be found in the service. This will also be good if you choose a temple that does most of its service in Hebrew. The rabbi can either provide you with the English translation or direct you to a temple or service that has an English service. I'm a pastor's daughter and the wife of a seminary student. If rabbis are like the pastors I know, then they should be quite happy to accomodate and share with you.

Also, some colleges (I'm assuming your in college) does have Jewish student unions that might have more casual services. When I was in college and still searching, I took a class on Judiasm and had to go to a service. The college I attended did not have the Jewish student union (it's named the same at all colleges, but I don't recall what), but my now-husband's did. We both went and got a good experience from it. (He also went with me when our class did the tours of our professor's synagogue and other things like the Jewish bath.)

When I went to the Jewish student union service, I dressed as though I was going to church. I do this when I attend a new church-- I dress up in traditional dressy church clothes, either pants and a blazer or a skirt and blouse and heels. If you've got it, it wouldn't hurt to wear a full suit. I live in a town that is still predominately Jewish. On Saturday mornings if I go out, I see them walking to temple. the women are in long skirts and modest tops, the men are in full suits. Just something to think about.

The dress thing should be common sense, but I've learned that what should be common sense, sometimes isn't. I used to attend a church where it was common for people to wear things like shorts and golf shirts to the contemporary service. I was not raised that way and I only go as casual as dark jeans with a blazer and loafers. (When I got my dark blue maternity jeans I told my mother that I liked them because they looked nice enough for church. My mother admonished me for wearing jeans to church.) One of the churches I attend now still has members who wear suits and ties to church. It's nice to see. I don't know if that's just them, or the "class" of the people. It's in a neighborhood that's upper-middle class to lower-upper and most of the parishioners likely wear the suits and ties to work during the week as well. I would feel under dressed in jeans, a blazer and loafers. I would almost feel underdressed in khakis.

I hope my rambling has been of some help.

Answer 4

the two faiths finally have self assurance in an analogous issues. they are the two Christian. the two faiths renowned salvation via Christ's crucifixion, the two faiths have self assurance in an all-powerful god. Now the two disagree on the extra superficial factors of religion. maximum critically, baptists take the Bible because of the fact the literal and unquestionable notice of God. They examine it therefor, that's authentic. Catholics examine the Bible as commonly a metaphor, some thing that needs to be interpreted. to no longer numerous from fixing a riddle. This distinction in interpretation leads to many diffused differences. Transubstantiation, by utilising St. Thomas Aquinas' reason, is a mixture of theological interpretation and Aristotelian good judgment. Baptists reject transubstantiation, because of the fact it is not any longer, notice for notice, in the Bible. this theory is a vogue between the two faiths and on their disagreements. additionally worth of no longer, as nicely he limitless extremely diffused differences, their is a huge distinction between non secular tone amoung the two faiths. As i'm effective you may tell merely from the responces, Catholics seem much less confrontational, mutually as the Baptists seem extra agressive. This stands to reason that a faith it rather relies of absolutes would be a splash extra fanatical and much less accepting of differences. mutually as maximum of Catholicism rather recognizes the smaller Protesant denominations. in fact, maximum Europeans have never heard of a well-liked Baptist. So thats rather the conflict in a simplistic nut shell. i could additionally want to be conscious that the Catholic Church has an extremely effective relationship with Anglicans, Lutherans, and the jap Orthodox faiths. exciting to be conscious, none of those faiths take the Bible actually eather. a number of those faiths have their disagreements, although that's regularly extra theological and much less fanatical, in the widespread era besides. As a Catholic, I ought to assert that no faith is thoroughly ideal or thoroughly incorrect. and that i think of that's immportant and morally ideal to admire the Baptist faith, inspect their ideals and honor its finer factors mutually as rejecting is worse features. i actually desire all faiths might desire to respectfully disagree, yet they cant.

Answer 5

Interesting that the ACLU doesn't have a problem with this as violating "separation of church and state".

I think the best thing would be to approach a friend or aquaintance at school and tell them what your assignment is and if they will go with you and make sure you are not acting offensive in any way.

Answer 6

you could sit in the back and blend in but i think you should get the full experience and sit in the middle. But the services are long and most of it is in Hebrew. i hope this helps good luck!!!!!

Answer 7

call the mosque before you go and talk to the Rabbi or his assistant and ask what is appropriate to wear and they will let you know. Shalom

Answer 8

they make you wear a little hat