For those of you who don’t remember or are new to this blog, I work in a synagogue. I am not Jewish. I am an atheist.
Right now we are smack dab in the mack dab of the High Holy Days. The Days of Awe, ten days of super Jewishness, that begin with Rosh Hashanah and end with Yom Kippur. There is feasting and the fasting. I believe the Jews invented the crash diet.
I have been named (in jest and in some truth) as our Temple’s Shabbos Goy, even though our Temple is Conservative and not Orthodox. This means that I’m working on the High Holy Days, even though, technically, our Temple is closed except for services.
I am surprised at who is being really observant and who isn’t at this time of year. It’s not who I expected… and this is peak attendance for synagogues. it happens every year, and you’d be amazed at the number of people who call at the last minute or just show up expecting seats to be available. Or the number of incredibly wealthy people who refuse to pay for tickets or dinners or to pay their dues. I guess that’s why they are wealthy.
Anyway, I’ve already heard all of the sermons since I was Rabbi’s practice audience. They are really good and hardly mention G-d (Jews don’t spell it out – haven’t figured that one out yet) at all, but are full of stories about the olden times, tradition, Fiddler on the Roof, and how it all relates to the now. In one sermon, our Rabbi called out certain people as “amateur gentiles” which cracked me up.
A lot of old ladies are dressed up in outfits that look like they stole them right out of Nancy Reagan’s closet and their make-up was done by Pamela Anderson’s person. The perfume!
The old men are all wearing ties that look like colorblind tests and, last night, one of my regulars said, “This shirt is 30 years old – you can’t get shirts like this anymore!”
No, you can’t, and you can’t get the matching striped mauve tie and jacket, either.
I believe there is supposed to be some major power/bad mojo in saying/knowing or spelling out His name in full, and sometimes even in the vague specific G-d… in fact, wasn’t that part of the plot of the kickass Warlock?
The only things I remember about Warlock were nailing the footprint, the Amish with the Hex Signs (we had them on our house growing up), and the girl from Footloose getting old. I guess I need to rewatch!
When you put the word “God” on a piece of paper, you’re committing His name to something that is fragile and will ultimately be destroyed or otherwise deteriorate, which is an insult to His name.
What Amy said. I also think that it is bad form to speak His name thus the biblical spelling YHWH without any vowels instead of the pronounceable Yahweh. However, I like it best when God calls Moses to go to Egypt and Moses is beating around the (burning) bush. Anyway Moses says, “If I come to the Israelites and tell them that the God of their ancestors has sent me, what do I tell them your name is?” And God said, “I Am who I Am.” Awesome answer.
Anyway, Shanah Tovah my atheist friend…from your Christian friend.
In Warlock, if you speak aloud the hidden name of God, you invoke the Uncreation. [/geek] (According to the film, it looks a bit like “Rokisa”. Who knew?)
Reading that Wiki link: Boy, it really makes religion look attractive. I mean, that Exodus quote about putting someone to death for doing some work? I know the Old Testament was more about the wrath and smiting than forgiveness, but still…
(I have read a fair bit of the Bible, although it’s been a while since I studied Exodus.)
My favorite is from the “Ten Commandments” when Moses refers to the god who has no name. (I always think about going to the desert on a horse with no name) And then Nathan used that line in grace that night for Easter. Talk about snorting during a prayer! ha! I guess I shouldn’t wonder at how you guys look at religion or that god guy! Ufdah!
Congrats on being named the Shabbos Goy!