Another Shabbat and a Few Observations

Another Shabbat has passed. I spent this one in Jerusalem. While I was invited to services and dinner in the Old City, I chose to remain at the apartment and put that invitation off until next week. There were a number of reasons for this, but mostly it was just weather-related: I don't like walking a couple miles in the cold and rain.

I went to services at the Conservative synagogue on Saturday morning. While talking to some of the congregants after services I noted that the comments I usually hear about my voice seem to have changed. Where I used to always hear "you have a wonderful voice" or something similar, I am now hearing comments like "Where are you a Cantor at?". I guess the vocal techniques I have been learning are starting to sink in. I find the change of comments a bit disconcerting, though. This may be due to my knowledge of how much more I still need to learn.

After services the Shlichat Tzibur (their lay-cantor) invited me to join her and some friends at her home for lunch. It was a very enjoyable time, with an unexpected twist.

One of the people in attendance was the president of the congregation. During the conversation I found out that they had hired one Cantor for the holidays and were looking for a second one. The Shlichat Tzibur will be in the US for the holidays, so will not be available. The president of the shul asked me to audition for the position and to talk to the Rabbi about it. I will pursue this to see where it leads, if anywhere. Leading at the shul associated with the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem would certainly give me excellent credentials for the future.

While chatting with my wife this morning I heard someone practicing blowing the Shofar. That started a dialogue about the culture here that contained a few observations that I wanted to pass along.

The first thing is the sounds that are heard in the neighborhoods around Jerusalem. This was obviously brought up by hearing the Shofar being sounded this morning. In addition to that, it is not uncommon to hear a choir practicing. This happens all the time and in most areas of the city, partly because there are so many synagogues in the city. (You will usually find one or more every couple of blocks.) Besides a Choir, it is not at all unusual to hear an individual practicing Tefellah (prayer).

Also of interest is that the natives (or those who have lived here more than a couple of years) on the surface appear to be quite nosey. I have not decided if this is because they are really interested in all the details or if they just like to talk. I have found that they are extremely friendly.

Along the friendly line of thought, I have also found that if anyone here invites you over, even on the spur of the moment, they really mean it and will miss you if you do not show up. This is quite a refreshing change from the US, where an invitation is sometimes a polite insincere gesture.

While the culture here is VERY different from the US, I truly like it. It is a wonderful feeling to be in a country where most of the population are “clansmen” and most people are friendly and open.