Trying out a new (conservative) shul.

Last weekend I went to Havdalah on the Lake and met the other girl who came alone. I’ve mentioned before that sometimes singles events are better for making new girlfriends than for meeting someone to date. She invited me to come to Anshe Emet for Anshe Emet Live. It is a musical erev shabbat service.

Holy cow! It was like Broadway comes to shul. Jazz hands please. It was a lot of fun and my hebrew has gotten to the level where I can daven and sing along side the conservative jews and not miss a beat. Or not too many beats. I didn’t feel bewildered.

I go to a shul that sings and is pretty interactive, but the hazan at Anshe Emet is a tenor with an amazing voice–like having Pavaroti come and lead the prayers. Wow! So I guess it is like if you go to a church with some modern hymns, everyone sings but not always super into it and then walking into a black church where there is a gospel choir. This was the gospel according to the Jews.

ANd there was a mandolin player and a djembe, tons of instruments, the Hazan and a (cute) young (married) rabbi. We didn’t last long at the Oneg Shabbat and instead headed out for japanese in boystown and had some yummy yakasobi.

We had a great time and it was a good experience to go to different shul. I’ll write more later, but I’m going to curl up with a book and a glass of wine. I’m reading Esau–an Israeli novel that I borrowed (stole) from Ronnie.