schindler list summery
...e to see the Torah, so I followed her up on the stage, which she called the beamer. There she opened a large cabinet that she called the ark and I saw five scrolls that were very beautiful to look at. I asked if there were any women Rabbis and she stated sure, and asked if I wanted to observe tonight’s service. She said I could return at eight o’clock and a special service was being given to honor their Cantor who was leaving for a new job in Washington, DC. 1. I returned at seven thirty because she had mentioned there would be about three hundred members and to come early. When arriving in the parking lot it was nearly filled up, with more people still coming. As I went through the door a member was greeting me with saying Shablot Shalom Welcome. I was given a program called Sabbath Lights. The Synagogue was packed with men, women and children. The elderly women that I had spoken to earlier greeted me, with a warm smile, shared information on what was about to happen and make me comfortable. What was different to me there were kids around, but no babies, I thought that was odd. The service started and to my surprise the Rabbi was a woman, she would say a couple of words then the Congregation would respond at that point, it reminded me of a Catholic service without the singing from the Rabbi. When the Rabbi was finished the choir began singing this pattern continued through out the service. Then it was time to honor the Cantor who I was told is the music teacher as well a person who can marry members. Cantor Michael Mandel was well liked as to a parade of members taking their turns at thanking him for being in their lives. He received a lot of gifts and good wishes and then the Cantor sang a song. Being there was kind of confusing I understood the sentiment for losing a well-liked Cantor, but trying to follow their service was hard. They were singing and responding in Yiddish, which is a mixture of dialectal German, Hebrew and Slavic language so at times I felt lost. When it was over I realized as I looked around unl...