Goofy CUFI's

Haven't seen or heard from these downstate folks in ages.  This being Yom Ha-Atzamaut, what better reminder than these once invited guests of AKSE to remind me that support for our Jewish homeland and absorption of the Jewish essence of Wisdom-Justice-Community-Sanctity are not necessarily coincident.  Don't know who these guys voted for in the spring primaries but a safe guess that their party registration diverges from mine.  Their concept of Holiness probably more literal than  mine but less expansive.  Probably AKSE and the State of Israel are better off with the CUFI's as silent partners.  The Navi Amos figured out some time ago that you could be a prominent member of the Jewish community and exploit a vulnerable person for a pair of shoes, but you won't be worthy of your land for very long if you do.

No Bar Mitzvah

Got to see Beth Tfiloh sans Bar Mitzvah for the first time in about eight visits.  No guest speaker either, just their shabbos morning as they assemble it.  Attendance was about 2/3 of what I have encountered before, which is still a lot of worshippers.  I am probably in the younger half, or maybe about the median in age.  I got there earlier than usual.  Like AKSE, attendance is relatively sparse at shacharit, so much so that the Assistant Rabbi was able to recognize me as an unfamiliar person sitting alone and come over to greet me shortly before he headed to the Bimah to chant a double portion flawlessly.  The Hazzan led both shacharit and musaf.  He has an engaging style, some chazzanut, some more lyrical.  No Torah interruptions, one of the premier attractions.  Simple but elegant DVar Torah from another Assistant Rabbi on Yom Ha-atzmaut.  Haftarah done well by a man celebrating his 70th birthday.  Some Yom Ha-atzmaut participation from their kids.  Younger kids came up with a flag, got their treat from Rabbi Wohlberg, then headed off.  The teens came up at the end, boys proceeding on the men's side of the mechitza, the girls on their side, then meeting in the middle as they ascended the Bimah together, performing two songs.  Simple Kiddush with middle eastern food to put into pita, noodle and potato kugels and a pastry table.  Then home.

I go partly as a spectator, partly as a participant in worship.  The experience probably is what it is for them, it enhances me, enough to justify the effort of getting there and back.  A good shabbos experience goes into memory storage.