Holy Exposures Commentary and Photos of Israel

An old joke waiting to be told:
How many Jews does it take to open the Ark and take out the Torah? Normally, the answer is one. Ok, I’ve seen in some synagouges two. How about three?

Background:
The synagouge service on days were the Torah includes an honor called “peticha” which litterally means “opening”. The honor is bestowed on a member or guest to go an open the Ark where the Torah scrolls are kept. He then takes out one of the Torahs and hands it to the Chazan (cantor) who brings the Torah to the bimah where it is unwound and read.

Three beats one:
I was visiting a synagogue in Chicago. This is a typical modern-orthodox American model. Here, the ceremony is as important as the actual prayers. Spotted as a guest, I was asked by the gabbai to go and take out the Torah and hand it to the chazan.

I walked up to the Ark and I saw two other men standing there as well. I turned back to the gabbai and asked what gives. He said each of the men would open one of the doors of the Ark and I would then take out the Torah.

Punchline:
I said, “if you need three guys to open the Ark, how many men does it take to do Hagbah (lifting the Torah after the reading)?”

In case it wasn’t already clear, in Israel we are used to brass-tacks prayers. No time for ceremony. Just like the Israeli people. We are an open and warm people, and we don’t stand on ceremony.

Share your experiences
What have you noticed different in your experiences in the Diaspora than what you are used to in Israel? Likewise, if you are from the Diaspora, what do you notice different when you visit the Holy Land?

In preparation for Yom Hashoa / Holocaust Memorial Day:

This year Yom Hashoa falls out on May 1st

Last year, on occasion of Holocaust Memorial Day, a ceremony took place right on the rails leading in to Auschwitz.

During the ceremony the Israeli Air Force flew above in salute.

This is truly one of the most emotional experiences for a Jew of our generation to experience.

A few years ago, I visited friends in New Jersey for Shabbat. We went to their synagogue for services and my friend introduced me to their Rabbi. The Rabbi welcomed me to their community and asked from where I had come.

I said, “I live in Bet Shemesh, Israel since 1994. I am an executive at a high tech company there, etc…”. He then said, “From your accent it sounds like you came from somewhere else”.

I responded, “True, I made aliya from Chicago”. Then the Rabbi says, “You’re from Chicago? Fascinating. Tell me about West Rogers Park. How are the schools, what’s the community like there” etc… I then reminded him that I hadn’t lived in Chicago for over a decade.

What if I been a tank commander? A politician? A diplomat? I guess living in Israel just isn’t exotic anymore. I suppose more Jews from Israel make it to synagogues in New Jersey than transplanted Chicagoans. Signs of the times.

Every time I speak with my friend, I remind him now as sort of a mantra, that his Rabbi was more interested in my Chicago roots than my living in Israel.

Here’s a Bus Stop in West Rogers Park, Chicago

Reading the Torah in Ramat Bet Shemesh (Hachnasat Sefer Torah)