In many parts of the Jewish world, this is the season when those two sayings are bandied about, because there are synagogues which strictly limit their attendence at prayers to those who paid in advance.
There are tons of jokes about people turned away at the door, and like all jokes, there must be an element of truth.
Hat tip Frum Satire
Even our synagogue, which has no paid rabbi, cantor etc must have money for electricity, water, cleaning, repairs and building. That comes from dues and donors.
There aren't any guards at the door, nor ushers to guide people to seats. There are prayers, like shofar-blowing on Rosh Hashannah or Kol Nidre on Yom Kippur, when it's a real Chinese puzzle, but then things empty out and get more "comfortable."
It will cost money to expand, and unfortunately people aren't uncomfortable enough to make the investment. For years the "committee" has been trying to find the best and least expensive and complicated way. Maybe this year, G-d wiling.
Shannah Tovah
Gmar Chatimah Tovah
4 comments:
Unfortunately, my husband's family folklore is about just such an incident... his grandmother went into a shul one Rosh Hashana while she was in university and wasn't allowed to even stand in the back. The story goes that's the last time she ever stepped into a shul.
I can believe it. I remember the tickets my parents had when I was a kid. In the 1950's and early '60's I can't imagine anyone daring to go into one of those organized shuls without. Not only the adult seats, but the Jr Congregation, in a special tent of our Conservative shul had needed paid tickets.
Kiruv hadn't yet arrived.
That same Conservative shul, 50 years later has aged, and the seats are empty.
I actually remember that show, "Curb your Enthusiasm" and that episode. It was a very funny parody of some of the things that go on with seats in "Temple" on R"H.
I'm so thankful that we don't have that stuff by us.
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