  Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 1204 Registered: 10-2003 |
I thought that this might interest some of the group. I apologize if it is already posted. I didn't see it. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb cs.dll/article?AID=/20081218/M ETRO/812180400/&imw=Y | ||
Mozeewink Member Username: Mozeewink Post Number: 81 Registered: 03-2008 |
Thanks for posting. I thought this was an interesting article. | ||
6nois Member Username: 6nois Post Number: 762 Registered: 11-2006 |
I love the synagogue. I wish the two groups could really come together to save it. The article was good. | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 14933 Registered: 12-2003 |
Great article, Aguilar knocks it out of the park once again. I would LOVE to see this building and congregation thrive. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3933 Registered: 10-2003 |
This was one of the more interesting stories in the News in a long time. I really enjoyed it and wish the congregation all the best. It's great that they want to make the place a catalyst for bringing people back to the city, and also growing their small congregation. At least, it sounds like a progressive group. | ||
Reddog289 Member Username: Reddog289 Post Number: 792 Registered: 08-2007 |
Although I,m not jewish, It would be sad to see the jewish community not have a place to worship in this city.I parked by there once while going to Comerica Park haden,t known the place existed till then. | ||
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway Post Number: 1501 Registered: 11-2004 |
Anyone know what they decided as far as selling it? | ||
Softailrider Member Username: Softailrider Post Number: 248 Registered: 02-2007 |
Very good article , It was not totally correct. You don't say Kaddish for 15 months, you say Kaddish for one day short of 11 months. Kaddish is never said for longer then 11 months, that's why you stop one day short. | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 1660 Registered: 07-2004 |
Where's Jjaba on this one? | ||
Steelworker Member Username: Steelworker Post Number: 640 Registered: 02-2004 |
Maybe I can convince my girlfriend(jewish) to worship there to check it out. I might even follow(im not jewish). I was a little confused by the article thought I know there are two groups the board and the congregation. Which is progressive and which is conservative? | ||
East_detroit Member Username: East_detroit Post Number: 1802 Registered: 11-2003 |
The Mourners' Kaddish is for 11 months (as in for your parent). However, in many Reform and Conservative shuls, the whole congregation takes part and those who are not specifically mourning are said to be mourning those of the Holocaust. So, the guy could have easily said the Kaddish for 15 months straight. | ||
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 1213 Registered: 10-2003 |
Or, if you are a Bernstein, you say Kaddish across generations: http://www.juilliard.edu/updat e/journal/j_articles92.html By the way, where is Jjaba? Haven't seen him chime in lately. I hope he is ok | ||
Softailrider Member Username: Softailrider Post Number: 250 Registered: 02-2007 |
Entire congregation does not take part in the saying of Kaddish in any shul I've ever been in. Only those who have lost a relative stand and recite Kaddish. | ||
Lodgedodger Member Username: Lodgedodger Post Number: 1200 Registered: 05-2008 |
Softail, the only synagogue I've been in was in Prague. Is it necessary to wear something on the head when entering the synagogue in the US? We used to in the Catholic church. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3998 Registered: 10-2003 |
The only time I ever visited a synagogue the males in our group were required to wear a yarmulke to enter, and it wasn't even during a service. It was a Reform congregation, so I'm not sure if the same rules apply between sects or even among congregations within the same sect. | ||
Softailrider Member Username: Softailrider Post Number: 251 Registered: 02-2007 |
At reform synagogues headcoverings are optional , majority don't wear them. At most conservative and orthodox synagogues males are required to wear headcoverings when they enter the doors. The rules may vary slightly from shul to shul, Jews are fond of the expression " variety is the spice of life" | ||
Lodgedodger Member Username: Lodgedodger Post Number: 1203 Registered: 05-2008 |
Thank you to both Lmichigan and Softail. I'd hoped to visit this synagogue, but didn't want to show up w/o the appropriate head covering. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3999 Registered: 10-2003 |
The one I went to, though, it is affiliated with Reform also says that it was originally founded as a merger to congregations, one Conservative and one Reform, so I guess the rules were made by whichever sect the rabbi happens to be from in this particular merged congregation. All that I know is that I was required to wear a headcovering. It was not a choice. | ||
East_detroit Member Username: East_detroit Post Number: 1804 Registered: 11-2003 |
"Branch" or "denomination" are better fitting terms than "sect." When in doubt, keep your head covered and don't bring in money. Then again, I'm curious why someone would go in who wasn't Jewish. | ||
Lodgedodger Member Username: Lodgedodger Post Number: 1206 Registered: 05-2008 |
Don't bring in money? Am I to understand there's no 'poor box'? | ||
Atwater Member Username: Atwater Post Number: 319 Registered: 09-2007 |
Generally speaking, there's no reason people should need to avoid bringing money into a synagogue. Only on the Sabbath is it traditionally prohibited to carry money, but that's only observed today in orthodox congregations, so that really wouldn't apply here. And, there most likely is a 'poor box' at the synagogue, called a tzedakah box, for money to go to charity. In general though, people shouldn't feel the need to bring money, or to avoid bringing money. Consider it a non-issue. | ||
Atwater Member Username: Atwater Post Number: 320 Registered: 09-2007 |
Oh, I see, East_detroit meant in general, not just for the Downtown Synagogue. Yes, when in doubt, if going into a synagogue and you're not sure of the particular denomination or the synagogue's particular practices.. A male should always have his head covered while inside, and, *on the Jewish Sabbath only (Friday night and Saturday)*, keep all money and electronic devices in your pockets (or just don't bring them in), since Judaism traditionally prohibits Jews from carrying such items on the Sabbath, and even if you're not Jewish, out of respect, it would be best not to have such items out. And if you have electronic devices in your pockets, make sure you turn them off or put them on silent. | ||
Softailrider Member Username: Softailrider Post Number: 253 Registered: 02-2007 |
Lodgedoger.... You don't have to worry about bringing your own , there's always a box of yarmukles by the door when you walk in. | ||
Lodgedodger Member Username: Lodgedodger Post Number: 1210 Registered: 05-2008 |
Tzedakah box, I'll look for it. As far as the yarmukle, I'm a woman. I'll bring a chapel veil in the event other women are wearing something to cover their heads. Thank you for the information. | ||
Steelworker Member Username: Steelworker Post Number: 641 Registered: 02-2004 |
I think i may have peeked my GF interest in going to this temple. She wants to have me convert to judasim so shes been shopping the idea of going to a reform temple. For my sake if i go to it i hope its reform. I have only been in one temple and it was a conservative one in oak park for a bar mitzvah. | ||
East_detroit Member Username: East_detroit Post Number: 1805 Registered: 11-2003 |
Downtown Synagogue is Conservative. For Reform you might try Temple Beth El. Generally, a Rabbi will want to hear that you want to convert for reasons beyond your girlfriend wanting you to, so maybe you'll find that reason in your visits. | ||
Softailrider Member Username: Softailrider Post Number: 254 Registered: 02-2007 |
Not to mention the circumcision he'll have to endure. He sounds like an adult ( ouchie!! ) | ||
Atwater Member Username: Atwater Post Number: 323 Registered: 09-2007 |
hahaha.. really though, yes, to convert to Judaism a male must get circumcised, but, in case you already are circumcised (which a lot of non-Jewish Americans are these days), the person who does the circumcisions would just draw blood down there- a lot less painful than a full circumcision! | ||
Lodgedodger Member Username: Lodgedodger Post Number: 1222 Registered: 05-2008 |
Uh, by 'the person who does the circumscisions', you do mean the doctor, right? I'd imagine most males of our generation were circumcised. At least it was thought to be "healthier" for the child by our parents. | ||
Atwater Member Username: Atwater Post Number: 324 Registered: 09-2007 |
lol, nope, 'the person who does the circumcisions' is called a mohel, and it's someone who's received training to do circumcisions. Nowadays, some of them are doctors, but many are not. But even the ones who aren't doctors should be perfectly competant- the training I mentioned includes both religious and limited medical instruction, so they do know what to do and what not to do. | ||
6nois Member Username: 6nois Post Number: 775 Registered: 11-2006 |
"Then again, I'm curious why someone would go in who wasn't Jewish." Im not technically Jewish, but I enjoy going to Shabbat. I practice but in my own way. At some point I may convert but right now I move around and I don't know where I will be after school, so I would rather wait until I am settled. The D.S. is conservative but I wouldn't say they are hardline. Contrary to the article they do count both men and women to get to the minyan. | ||
Lodgedodger Member Username: Lodgedodger Post Number: 1226 Registered: 05-2008 |
"Then again, I'm curious why someone would go in who wasn't Jewish." It's always interesting to learn about other religions. As a child, we were never encouraged to go to other churches. The first non-Catholic church I'd entered was a synagog in Prague. It was beautiful and so peaceful. | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 4529 Registered: 02-2004 |
Along time ago Detroit has synagogues in every street corner. Now it's just one. Like jjaba said, every 25 years the ethnic Jewish communities begin to move on to another area and call it their promise land. Detroit survived before the ethnic Jewish community and Detroit will survive after the ethnic Jewish community move away. |
