These last few blog posts have hopefully provided you a better understanding of what to expect from the service. It's fair to say, however, that there is a lot more going on during those hours leading to lunch. I remember when Danny and I got married, we took my maid of honor, who wasn't Jewish, to morning services. Before we went, I prepared her for what to expect that isn't necessarily part of the service, but that she might find curious or even disruptive.
Knowing that many of you are coming from different congregations, as well as other denominations,I'd like to familiarize you with what to expect outside of the traditional series of prayers, Torah readings and sermons.
Services start right at 9:30 a.m. and go until about 12:30 p.m. more or less. However, people tend to arrive anywhere between 9:30 a.m. and 10: 15 a.m. Some may consider that rude or sacrilegious, but it's a common occurrence in most conservative congregations throughout the world...or at least the ones I've attended.
Arriving at 9:30 a.m. has its benefits. Towards the beginning of the service, before 10 a.m., Danny and I will present Andrew with his Tallis (prayer shawl) and say a few words to him. Also, you'll have your pick of seats to sit in. Not that the seats fill up, but people tend to save seats for those that are on the way. In most cases Tallis' and prayer books will be strewn across the rows. In other cases it may not be that obvious and you'll find yourself in a game of jumping beans. You sit down, and someone says, sorry that seat's taken, you stand up. You sit down, and someone else says that seat's taken. You jump up. We will sit towards the front on the right side, and of course we'll try to save seats, but there are no guarantees :)
You'll also hear a low hum buzzing across the congregation. Yes, in most cases this is the hushed shuckling (the exercise of swaying back and forth while reading Hebrew out loud) of congregants deep in prayer. But, in other cases it's the low hush of conversation. This is not encouraged, of course. And you might hear some shushing others. I don't know if it's a case where the older set doesn't realize that their whispers are really just breathy screams, or if people think that since most of the service is chanted in Hebrew their conversations will be drowned out by the davening (another word for swaying back and forth while reading Hebrew out loud).
After services, and the crowd is ravishingly hungry, the congregation makes their way to the social hall for the Kiddush -- the name for the light lunch served following the service. I recommend making your way quickly to get in line, and finding a seat. There's nothing like being part of the 200-plus, post-services crowd politely jockeying their way to get a nibble of kugel (sweet noodle casserole), or a bite of a blintz (crepe-like casserole).
Once you've had your nosh (light snack), you may notice that a crowd of congregants are standing in a huddle poking their heads in and out. No, this isn't a post lunch prayer. No, this isn't a ritual dance. This bird-like, pecking motion signals that the crowd is surveying the selection of sweets from the dessert table. What's happening is this: One person is looking in to see what the assortment has to offer. Another person is looking out to see if their spouse notices they've snuck some snickerdoodles before coming back to the table. Yet another person is looking in and asking the person on the opposite side of the table what's down there and if they know who made it.
So there you have it. The behind the scenes. I would imagine every congregation, Jewish or otherwise, has its idiosyncrasies. I wouldn't have it any other way.
No comments:
Post a Comment