The Old-New Synagogue

25 Aug 1991

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This ticket is for the Old-New Synagogue, which is said to be the oldest one in Europe (parts date from 1270 or so). It was a strange sensation to be in the synagogue, because I thought it was beautiful but I feel very strange about the workings of the Jewish faith. I didn’t feel this way seeing any of the artifacts or the graveyard, but the actual place of worship made me feel kind of alienated. I wonder if this is because all of the Jewish "adults" I know rejected their strong Jewish upbringings. Or is it more because the temple is mostly below ground level, with some windows near the ceiling, at street level, and women had to stand outside and look in through the windows if they wanted to worship, because they weren’t allowed to come into the synagogue? I just feel like there is no place in the faith for me, even if I wanted to be a part of it. There are so many rules and so many things overly defined. I don’t see any place where women are recognized as part of the body of people, or much aside from just supportive wives and mothers and sisters of the people who really do stuff. Well, I suppose there are things about the ceremonial practices of Judaism that are very beautiful and welcoming to some people, and perhaps I would find them beautiful too (as I find the decorations and tools and ornaments that people make in honor of their faith), but I do not think I could feel comfortable with a faith that didn’t hold women as worshippers (or citizens) in their own right, valuable for their particular contributions in both the formation and the practice of it.