Sikhs and Jews

[Guest guest]

Hi Group-

 

 

I wanted to tell about two faiths I recently have learned-heard about

in the news.

 

First - Judiasm. I don't know much about Judiasm, but two weeks ago

when I went for a job interview, in that area were several Jewish

Temples (not sure if this is the right term) anyhow- one was a small

roadside one in the village- we bumped into because we were 'lost'

and the other was in a town- a big brick building. We got to go

inside and explore it with the permission of the people working

there. Interestingly, I was dressed in a sari that day and had a

reservation about going inside, but they did not treat me strangely.

So, there were three rooms- one was a daily prayer room with pews and

a puplit at the front. THere were lots of small 'pillows' with hebrew

writing on them and a bible written in Hebrew and English. I wasn't

sure what the pillows are for- does anyone know?

 

Then in the other rooms- one was an auditiorium with a stage- nothing

fancy, but the rug was very nice. The third was their "SUNDAY ROOM"

this is what I called it- the one they use for real mass where a

rabbi (jewish priest) comes and gives a sermon. There were two

interesting things in this room- one was on the wall behind the

rabbi's stand was the ten commandments written in Hebrew (that was

what was guessed by the lady showing us around) and the more

interesting thing- there are two sections to the room- the 'lower'

and 'higher.' THe lower is on the floor nearest rabbi- facing out in

a square from him, and the higher "encircles' or should I

say 'ensquares' :-) the lower section on three sides of the square

not going behind the Rabbi. So- the lower section ONLY men can sit

and higher only women, there is even a sign for that.

 

I found this all very interesting. I had taken pictures and will post

them on my site later.

 

 

Also, I have Thinking about going to a Sikh temple, too.

Interestingly- but not very good news- on Nov 11 (two months after

world trade center) two boys burnt down a gurudwara (sikh temple) in

the country side about 1.5 hours from here. They are currently being

tried in court for a 'hate crime' which makes penalty worse than if

it were 'arson'. The gurudwara priest came on TV and said instead of

JAIL the boys should be assigned to help rebuild the gurudwara. I

wanted to know what the group thinks? I think personally they should

rebuild the gurudwara to understand exactly what they have done, and

maybe in the process learn about Sikhs.

 

Bye for now,

Jennifer