Friday, April 1, 2011

Visiting a synagogue that has no mechitza

[Please read comment following this article.  The ideas here written no longer are accurate and were a scientific exploration of truth and health in our Universe prior to an actual visit to a jewish place of worship that did not have a mechitza.]

There are many who will tell you that you never should set foot in any "godless" place such as a reform or conservative synagogue if you are REALLY an orthodox jew.  Just as these people will never enter a church.  They will also never attend a service where there is no mechitza.  This is truly a trustworthy thing to consider.  That said, I must say that if you were someplace where going to a real Orthodox synagogue was not possible or even if you just really wanted to visit the reform or conservative communities on shabbas, it is not a whoredom to arrange this and be in a congregation of non separated men and women.  Surely God is not stupid and did not prevent the formation of these non aligned forms of Jewish worship. Don't you believe that God is indeed in control of the Universe?  He is.  So if God will let the people build such a structure, it must mean that God does not believe our people will suffer immensely if we happened to visit such a place. 
I had for a while and as a result of knowing a radical heretic of the seemingly orthodox movement decided never to attend another service in one of these places.  I must confer with you all that I say never say never.  I am dressed today to go to a Reform Service I surmise as its my grandmothers yahrzeit.  I no longer have an orthodox congregation in my vicinity that I can attend.  So I guess once in a while its Reform.
And I guess that after a full year and a month of not driving or riding in a motor vehicle during shabbas hours, it looks like I'll let my father and mother drive me to the Temple.
One other topic. The reform call their place of worship a Temple.  Say it as you wish, it is a Jewish place of spiritual development.  So if they want to say Temple, I am not going to tear down their healthy yearning hearts that all do love their Temples.  No its not the Temple in Jerusalem.   Many of the orthodox and even conservative Jews attack Reform Jews for having a "temple".  This is actually narcissism.  It is not Torah.  So I'll be going to the Temple and I'll call it a temple or place of worship.  Can I call it a shul?  I say you can do that as well.  But its not a Real Orthodox Shul and clearly I really don't think any person is going to be confused.
Praying without a mechitza is dangerous however, I must say I wish that it was not the problem with Jewish leadership today that we have places without this essential and must of a separation of men and women during times of worship.   I can say the prayers of course, but my head and my heart will not be holier in the end of the song.  It won't be as if I am a criminal.  Not that at all.  But the leaders of the past who did rip down this barrier are Criminals in my mind.  Sadly in this day and age it is impossible to think that they will ever put one back up again and thats how we live.  There are many insipid folks who hate that there is a separation.  So I guess this is the place for them to go. 
So I hope that tonight the orthodox don't hate me for davening per se without a mechitza (its really not davening at this point if there is no separation. Its more like attending a sports festival really).  And I hope that the Reform and many someday too conservative dont mock or ridicule a self professed orthodox jew for being in their company in the worship of God.

1 comment:

C.J. Brenner said...

I HEREB Y COMPLETELY INVALIDATE THE IDEAS I THOUGHT WERE LIKELY POSSIBLE IN THIS PARTICULAR BLOG THREAD. I can not ever visit another reform or conservative synagogue EVER.
If you are a God loving Jew, these places are not for you any time or place or anywhere either.
If they get a mechitza in their lives they will be holy happy healthy places. They are not.
I will never again go to one and believe me, you can indeed say NEVER.