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Conference taveng::bagels

Title:	BAGELS and other things of Jewish interest
Notice:	1.0 policy, 280.0 directory, 32.0 registration
Moderator:	SMURF::FENSTER

Created:	Mon Feb 03 1986
Last Modified:	Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	1524
Total number of notes:	18709

22.0. "Jewish Hospitality?" by EXODUS::LAMY () Tue Sep 24 1985 12:32

I have come across your notes file and have been following it for a little
while now.  I like to say that so far it has been an education for me and I
am sure for others too.

I would like to share with you an experience I had in attending a Jewish Schul
and see what opinions or comments you may have.


I first was introduced to the Jewish faith while I was in Navy boot camp at
Great Lakes, ILL.  In boot camp I was placed in a special group which was made
up of men who either played an instrument, was part of a drill team or sang in
the Blue Jackets Choir. I sang in the choir.  While there a Jewish young
man came by our barracks and asked if there anyone was interested in
participating in the Jewish Choir on Friday nights.  Jewish services was
held on the main naval training center called Main side.  I reluctantly
volunteered my services only because the young man said he didn't care if I
was Jewish or not he just wanted my voice, such as it was.

I have to admit I was apprehensive at first being that I was a Gentile
Goyim.  I also have to admit that after the first night I had selfish
motives to continue.  First it got me out of boot for a few hours without
being AWOL, the food on main side was thirty times better than in boot
and my taste of kosher food and Morgan David after the service greatly
increased.

The one thing that has stuck with me all these year since boot camp was how
the way people in the Schul treated me.  I was accepted as though I were one 
of them.  They probably knew I wasn't Jewish by both my looks and my non
Jewish attitude.  But nevertheless they accepted me and made me feel
welcomed and at home.  I never before felt such acceptance by any person or
group as I was in that Jewish Schul.  I also noticed a closeness that was
exudated by those that were there.  So I continued to go every Friday
while I was in boot camp.

Now the one thing I would like to point out is that these people
in the Schul were from both boot camp and the training center including
wives and children, it wasn't strickly boot camp personnel.  


Which brings me down to the questions I would like to discuss;

Are most Jewish Schuls similar to what I experienced?
How do you treat a Gentile?
Do you invite Gentiles into you Schul? Why or why not.
Any general comments?


Just a little added information on how I feel about the Jews and
Israel.

I have a deep inner love for the Jewish people.  I know of their many
trials and struggles as a nation from studying the Old Testement of
the Bible, talking with Jewish friends and being a amature historian.
I also am in favor of and support with prayers the nation of Israel.

What I have written may be a little off the wall to you but I like to
think that their are other Gentiles out there that have the same
feelings.

Now I leave it to you.

Shalom

Walt Lamy

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
22.1		BENSON::MAHLER		`Tue Sep 24 1985 13:02`	38
	Dear Walt, Off the wall, maybe not, but definitely beutiful to hear. I sometimes forget the comfort of speaking with someone from my own backround and forget even more the inner fulfillment I receive when I hear that someone non-jewish has a desire, and a heartfelt one at that, to learn of my/our heritage and history. Yes, I think that most of the schuls I have been to (in New York) are of the same nature as you have stated. However, my experience is limited only to the Conservative and Orthodox sects. I am not sure how the Hasidic or Reform might react, but I am sure you would be welcome. Many times I have seen or brought goyim into my schul and introduced them to my rebbi. They were ALWAYS greeted with an open mind and heart and never made to feel as an outsider. (Actually, if you are Italian, no one may ever ask %^} I believe your experience in boot camp may have made you a more rounded, as it were, and open-minded person, or perhaps you were in possesion of these qualities already and this brought it out. You are right about the kosher food, it IS better and that is why slot of non-jews always order it on plane trips. Please, if there is anything alse I can answer, send MAIL or put up a note, and as the moderator, let me again welcome you to the file and hope you enjoy it here. Solemnly, Micahel
22.2		JOEL::BERMAN		`Tue Sep 24 1985 15:50`	22
	Hi, I was in the Band at Boot Camp and know exactly what you are talking about. We also got to make telephone calls home. I had the best and worst experiences in the NAVY. I went to DS-A School in Vallejo Ca. I attended Shul there and recieved a years worth of dinner invitations, offers of help, all sorts of friendship. It was beautiful. On the other hand I lived around the corner from a Temple in Norfolk, VA and went to services a lot and never made a friend. I then got fixed up with a friend of my roommate, and went to services with her. When I went with her, everyone knew her and finally started talking to me. One part I always love is that a Jew can go to services anywhere in the world and participate in the service. I would say that I have been to 100 different Shuls, Synagogues, Temples. Except for Norfolk, I have always been made to feel very welcome. /joel
22.3	Festive and Friendly!	TROOA::RECEPTIONIST		`Fri Mar 19 1993 19:16`	9
	A couple of months ago I had the great opportunity of visiting an evening service at a Messianic Jewish Church. These are Jews that believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, is part of the Trinity, and is the Son of God. I am Pentacostal, and we love our worship music! Well, what a wonderful surprise to be part of the festive music and songs of the Jewish culture! It was loud, boisterous, and cheerful!I loved it! They were very friendly and accepting- what a terrific experience! Deborah
22.4	Here we go again?	DECSIM::HAMAN::GROSS	The bug stops here	`Sat Mar 20 1993 00:32`	16
	I'm glad you enjoyed the service and all that, but the Messianic Jews are discussed in another thread in this conference (484.*). If you look at that thread you'll find that "Messianic Jews" aren't Jewish. They seem to be more sincere than the Jews for Jesus group, but once a Jew accepts Jesus and the Christian Bible he becomes, per se, a follower of the Christian religion. The Jews for Jesus group is simply an evangelistic organization trying to convert Jews to Christianity without admitting it. I suspect there is something of that going on with the Messianic Jews too, but that group also seems to include (born) Christians who enjoy using some of the Jewish prayer-forms in their services and emphasize the Jewish roots of Christianity. The general subject "who is a Jew?" is very complex and always elicits a lively response. Dave