My last Shabbat did the impossible--it lived up to my lofty expectations.
I arrived back from my visit with Ramogi friends with barely enough time to prepare for Shabbat and get my ideas finalized for my words of wisdom, but managed to make it to services only a few minutes late. The service, which took place only by the light of the ner tamid ("constant light", a common presence in synagogues) as the power was out, had a particularly affecting and genuine aura. As we sang togehter and prayed silently in or own words or by the faint light of the setting sun, I reached a truly full appreciation of the opportunities of been given here.
After kabbalat shabbat, I addressed the community, discussing the journeys of Israel in the desert and their future in Israel and connecting it to my journey here. The importance of recounting, remembering and utilizing what is learned from this as one goes forward was a lesson I stressed for myself and others. I also had the opportunity to express what a unique community this was, and how much I have appreciate that, stressing how having a homegrown Jewish community in the 20-21 centuries is something that helps create the singular practice and environment present here.
This was not my only time to the front of the congregation--for the first time since my bat mitzvah, I pulled out my latent (and admittedly limited) trop knowledge and read the second aliyah (~"section") of the Torah portion this morning. Most of my post-dinner time was taken up with practicing, though it was pretty rewarding to read publicly for the second time in my life!
After synagogue I decided to join the Rabbi's after-service "reformation" group (where he discusses issues of alcohol and drug use with the community) though today's discussion actually turned out to be about...marriage. The problem of intermarriage was the main issue to be tackled--much more of a threat where the girls are quite few and many are or are seen as relatives. The rabbi encouraged the throng to look for Jewish wives, and if they found themselves interested in a non-Jewish woman, she would have to prove herself dedicated to Judaism before they became seriously involved (and considered conversion). Some clearly struggled with this, and it is understandable given not only the demographic problems but the hidden dating culture here--one rarely speaks of "boyfriend" of "girlfriend" and meetings must often take place in secret before an official ceremony occurs.
Following the lunch discussion and lunch, I took a pleasant walk with a few Shabbat guest to Namanyoni, the next community over--taking a last peak inside their synagogue and re-visiting Athalia, who I met with some weeks back. She explained to us the practice she and some of her peers keep of refraining from entering the synagogue during menstruation and for the biblically prescribed number of days after the birth of children, a practice that the younger generation has dropped as they have adopted a form of Conservative Judaism.
The walk was followed by a Talmud session with the Rabbi, a guest and the other volunteer, and it gave me my first insight into the Rabbi's learning style and ability. It was quite interesting to see him deal with the text (which he did well) in a style that was very different from his usual theological teachings in services or conversation.
Perhaps the highlight of the day, though, actually came after havdalah (the ceremony ending Shabbat). I got in one last conversation with the rabbi, and among other revelations, got the crux of what I have learned here confirmed: this community is not Orthodox, Conservative or Reform, whichever American influences and rabbis have come here--they are Abayudaya. The affiliations people claim come only from the fact that women can participate fully in the service--even the Rabbi's rabbinical school teacher, who visited here sometime back, acknowledged there were many issues here that would be unique to the Abayudaya. Flat out, I was told that Abayudaya is a denomination unto itself, one which is already inspiring other African countries and which the Rabbi hopes to see one day in the U.S. and Israel as well. It is new and thus evolving, figuring out how to contend with halacha which can be bent but not broken, according to the rabbi's estimation. (He did, however, say that if he was to be interested in changing halacha for the purposes of helping the community he would write a teshuvah for approval by the Conservative Committee on Jewish Laws and Standards.)
Falling asleep now, but more from this great conversation (and hopefully a few others to come) tomorrow!!
Shavua tov!
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