Shalom?

So yesterday, I was invited to synagogue (for all that don't know, it is a Jewish "church" by some sense of the meaning) and mostly because I am incredibly curious, I went. As long as there's a fair chance it won't kill me I'm willing to give it a go, even if I'll probably embarrass myself (which I am used to doing by now).

So we drove down to Bellingham to this cute old building, the synagogue. As soon as I entered I was tense, I am extremely shy and usually awkward with new people, especially in a house of worship because they really are unfamiliar to me as I have minimal exposure to religion. Well, I was introduced to the rabbi, a very nice lady from what I can tell, and we picked up prayer books (which I observed to be backwards, but apparently the spine is supposed to be on the right hand side).

When we sat down, I looked through the book in my hands briefly and noticed an intimidatingly large amount of Hebrew, which of course, I had no hope in reading. In fact, there seemed to be Hebrew everywhere. There was a huge banner I guess you call it with an image of a tree and some Hebrew I believe meant something along the lines of "the root of life". This was my favorite part of the "decor" of the building.

Ok so I'm sitting there thinking I will stick to my observer standards, but my boyfriend wants me to make an attempt at the Hebrew. Umm, sure I'll get on that. He pointed out that there was a phonetic-ish version of the prayers and songs etc. under or around the actual Hebrew. When I say phonetic-ish, I mean I could get by, but it took me a while to commit to memory that "ch" meant I had to pronounce the sound like there was something at the back of my throat rather that the "ch" sound in "chipper". It would have sounded really cool if a) I had any talent with my singing voice and if b) I had any clue of how to pronounce it all and if c) anyone could hear me. I made a point of whispering most of it, because I was sadly butchering it. There were random words that appeared repeatedly that I got the hang of, and spoke up a little for them.

After much singing and a silent prayer, (at least I think that's what was going on.. I had no idea.. we were supposed to sit down when we were done.. but I sat down as soon as my boyfriend was) the rabbi gave a little speech. I was quite pleased when it was on vegetarianism and its benefits, score one for Janelle! (Though I am a veggie merely because I dislike meat and because I don;t eat it my stomach has built up an intolerance for it, but hey, at the same time I'm keeping Kosher!).

Toward the very end we, well everyone but me, wished a few people Happy Birthdays (I didn't have my phonetic-ish Hebrew in front of me, I would have joined in if I had) and said a prayer for those who are ill and for those who have passed. Finally, there was one last song (that I forgot to mention I learned at the beginning of the service). Though we repeated the maybe 10 words many times, its gone from my head already. Finally we went to the basement and ate and drank and socialized. I told some lady that "I'm thinking of staying here in BC for university.." which probably confused her because we were in fact, in Bellingham.

Anyways, despite the uneasiness of my ignorance to the goings-on, it was a very nice service, and I might just go back again.