first time ever at synagogue

[Maccabi]

well, I went to Chabad tonight. 30 yrs old and I had never been in a Synagogue except maybe a few times many many years ago.

It was pretty cool.

the Rabbi had a decent sense of humor and the guys there showed me what page to look at, even though I only know 1 word of Hebrew. 

I never knew when to say 'Amen' but it was still interesting to read the prayer book (luckily there were more than 10 people there).

I actually sort of like the black hats with the big rims now.

I used to think they were goofy, but now I like how they look on the rabbis.

[Ehud]

I'm happy for you MackaB, I know that a Chabad synagogue can be intimidating for someone who's rarely been.  I got my Bar Mitzvah at a the Chabad of Pasadena and attended services and the Rabbi there is a fantastic man.  I've had nothing but good experiences with Chabad.  You guys are lucky to have a Chabad and a conservative synagogue in your area.  Where I'm going to be moving, the only synagogue around is a deformed/multi-denominational one.  I'm still debating whether I should even go......  :embarassed: 

[Dexter]

Excellent !
Very good, but why did you went to Chabad's Synagogue ?

[Allen-T]

Is it common practice to travel if necessary to attend a good Bible teaching Synagogue? We have a church across the street from our house, the people are nice but our church in Manhattan WAS much better, though it's rapidly in decline. We will probably start attending another church in Chelsea which we have visited before that is great. 

[Dr. Dan]

Mazel Tov and Yishar Koach!

Congratulations and all the more strength to you.

My 'conservative' Jewish 'synagogue' can't seem to get enough of Darfur and open homosexuality. The only thing I enjoy about my synagogue is the cantor and the Torah service.  I know this is blasphemy on this board but a few of the women readers are better than most of the regular male readers.

I haven't been to my conserved synogogue in a looong time...

[kahaneloyalist]

Is it common practice to travel if necessary to attend a good Bible teaching Synagogue? We have a church across the street from our house, the people are nice but our church in Manhattan WAS much better, though it's rapidly in decline. We will probably start attending another church in Chelsea which we have visited before that is great. 

Because we cant use cars on Shabbat we must live pretty close to whichever shul we attend

[Maccabi]

My 'conservative' Jewish 'synagogue' can't seem to get enough of Darfur and open homosexuality.

HAHAHA.

I was looking on the net for a Synagogue in my area and I thought maybe I'd go to Hillel...Until I visited the website and saw it had stuff about those 2 "Jewish causes". I probably wouldn't attend any deformed synagogue. 

I also saw some of the printed material they (Hillel) gave to my mom called 'Israel 101'.  On the front cover there is a multi-cultural propoganda pictures with 2 black kids, 2 white kids (2 guys, 2 girls) in front of a flag of Israel.

On the back cover is a picture of a rabbi and some towel wearing guy holding hands in a marketplace titled 'Imagine Peace' (which could be interpreted as homo propoganda).

[Allen-T]

Is it common practice to travel if necessary to attend a good Bible teaching Synagogue? We have a church across the street from our house, the people are nice but our church in Manhattan WAS much better, though it's rapidly in decline. We will probably start attending another church in Chelsea which we have visited before that is great. 

Because we cant use cars on Shabbat we must live pretty close to whichever shul we attend

What about subway/bus? I don't own a car. Is handling a Metrocard the same as handling money, which if I am correct is also not allowed?

[kahaneloyalist]

My 'conservative' Jewish 'synagogue' can't seem to get enough of Darfur and open homosexuality.

HAHAHA.

I was looking on the net for a Synagogue in my area and I thought maybe I'd go to Hillel...Until I visited the website and saw it had stuff about those 2 "Jewish causes". I probably wouldn't attend any deformed synagogue. 

I also saw some of the printed material they (Hillel) gave to my mom called 'Israel 101'.  On the front cover there is a multi-cultural propoganda pictures with 2 black kids, 2 white kids (2 guys, 2 girls) in front of a flag of Israel.

On the back cover is a picture of a rabbi and some towel wearing guy holding hands in a marketplace titled 'Imagine Peace' (which could be interpreted as homo propoganda).

I dont care about the picture of the 2 blacks and 2 whites, remember Ethipian Jews are our brothers, same as any other Jew.

Is it common practice to travel if necessary to attend a good Bible teaching Synagogue? We have a church across the street from our house, the people are nice but our church in Manhattan WAS much better, though it's rapidly in decline. We will probably start attending another church in Chelsea which we have visited before that is great. 

Because we cant use cars on Shabbat we must live pretty close to whichever shul we attend

What about subway/bus? I don't own a car. Is handling a Metrocard the same as handling money, which if I am correct is also not allowed?

Using a credit card, or a metro card are out because they serve the same function as money.

And no we arent allowed on buses or subways under normal circumstances

[Ehud]

I dont care about the picture of the 2 blacks and 2 whites, remember Ethipian Jews are our brothers, same as any other Jew.

It's propaganda because half of Israel is not black as represented in the pictures.  In the picture, the facts are purposefully altered to portray a distorted sense of reality with the aim of conveying a certain message.  That's called propaganda.  There's nothing wrong with respecting other Jews in Israel, but when you distort reality to support an ideology such as multi-culturalism or acceptance of other people, that's wrong.  There would be nothing wrong if the pictures had lots of children in it, closely representing the true demographics of Israel.
 

[Maccabi]

I dont care about the picture of the 2 blacks and 2 whites, remember Ethipian Jews are our brothers, same as any other Jew.

It's propaganda because half of Israel is not black as represented in the pictures.  In the picture, the facts are purposefully altered to portray a distorted sense of reality with the aim of conveying a certain message.  That's called propaganda.  There's nothing wrong with respecting other Jews in Israel, but when you distort reality to support an ideology such as multi-culturalism or acceptance of other people, that's wrong.  There would be nothing wrong if the pictures had lots of children in it, closely representing the true demographics of Israel.
 

Exactly.  I have no problems with black people especially black Jews. would be happy to have some as friends.

But this stuff looks like some crap off of WB network and does not portray real Jewish values.

Anyways, thanks for the encouragement from all who have posted in this thread so far.

I have a pretty good feeling about Chabad as far as the direction I think I want to go.

[cosmokramer]

Glas to hear it MackaB. My first time in a synagougue was 18. I didnt find out I was a Jew untill I was 14.

[Lubab]

MakaB! This is great news! I'm so happy for you!

[Shlomo]

I have a pretty good feeling about Chabad as far as the direction I think I want to go.

I love Chabad and Chassidic philosophy!

[DownwithIslam]

Oh, my situation is sort of opposite yours. I used to go to synagogue with my family and stuff but I haven't been there in a real long time. Oh well

[jsullivan]

MackaB, what a wonderful story.

[Allen-T]

Forgive me if this seems ignorant but I am really curious about this matter; From what I gather being around JTf and reading Kahanist literature, it seems that true orthodox Bible believing Jews are in a minority amongst Jews in general, same as with Christians. Give the utter importance of knowing Gods Word and being part of a living religious community, is it really totally off limits to travel to a good solid Bible based Synagogue when the alternative in your neighborhood is dead spiritually? How do you stay built up spiritually if that's the case?