A Very Liberal Rosh Hashana today

My Shul | 9/10/18 | Vanity

[pabianice]

As usual, my wife and I attended first day Rosh Hashana services this morning. As he had done several years ago, the rabbi condemned Trump and Republicans for creating violence and bad feelings in the US and the world. I had had it and we walked out. This is the second time he has done this during The High Holidays. What a putz.

When he had last done this I wrote to the congregation a letter criticizing the rabbi and the temple. A month later they replied that they had passed my letter to the rabbi, but counseled me not to overreact. Today was the last straw.

Why are Jews so stupidly attached to unicorn and rainbow fantasies at the expense of the real world? And can anyone recommend another synagogue in the Worcester, MA area?

[Buckeye McFrog]

This is the second time he has done this during The High Holidays. What a putz.

Your people had the great wisdom and foresight to invent that word to describe people like him.

[Pearls Before Swine]

But I recall Dennis Prager saying a few times, to paraphrase, that a more Christian America is a better place for the Jewish people, than a more secular society we have been evolving into.

I would say he's correct as of now. However, 60 to 90 years ago, Christians didn't think much of Jews. It would have been difficult to get into say, Harvard, or for that matter, Morgan Stanley on Wall Street. But that changed after World War II. Jews became more integrated into American Culture, and Christians became less prejudiced against them.

Now, the secular world is taken up with Palestinian, Muslim, and LGBT propaganda, and Jews are the scapegoats in that milieu. Meanwhile, Christians support Israel. Times change. People have to recognize that, and recognize who their friends (and enemies) are. They don't always come from the same places over time.

[Robert DeLong]

Can anyone recommend another synagogue in the Worcester, MA area?

Probably not, at least not one that isn't liberal.

[onedoug]

I can still hear my mother saying, “They’re going to cure cancer in Israel.” And she was a Stevenson democrat.

[Pearls Before Swine]

I hope they cure it everywhere!

[katana]

It's not all Jews. Maybe most, and that's still a puzzle, but not all. My best friend is a Conservative Jew in Cincinnati and he (and his wife) were devoted supporters of DJT before me and helped me come around.

The dilemma of putting up with a moron who inserts his politics into holy services to remain in a congregation you know, moving on where you'd be new, or trying to get the idiot fired, is a very common issue these days in any faith. Organizing a group of Elders who share your sentiments and confronting him together to tell him to quit it or leave might work. Cut off the money and see how fast he'll reform, leave, or get removed.

[Yaelle]

You’ve got a bit too long of a commute but I went to the BEST ROSH HASHANA SERVICE IN THE WORLD for non leftists. Dennis Prager delivers the most beautiful, meaningful services I could imagine. No politics, but we all know his, and he focuses on Gd and life and religion. It is so nice not being hit with the phony gods of leftism like in most synagogues. Any Los Angeles FReepers who don’t need a perfectly Orthodox service (amazing cantors and musicians, electricity etc) should do all they can to attend Prager’s High HolyDays.

[Mrs. Don-o]

You gotta stay, and here's why: the Church is not a religious vendor and you are not a religious consumer. The Church is the Body of Christ and you are a member of that Body. You are like a cell, tissue, system, limb, sensory organ, etc. of Christ (as St. Paul says about a dozen times or so.)

Paul also says that if one part of the Body is rejoicing, it all rejoices, and if one part is hurting, they are ll hurt. This directly entails that the whole Body is responsible for the wellbeing of each member, and each is responsible for the wellbeing of the whole.

I think about this deep truth very frequently. I think about it all the time, and as a catechist I teach it all the time.

So rather than have a "religious consumer" mentality (are the goods & services here sufficiently satisfactory to me, personally?) it is necessary to have a "responsible member" mentality.

You will suffer for the sake of the Church. This should not surprise you. Christ will not give you an escape from suffering, but He will give you a supernatural motive and meaning for suffering. You will suffer with Christ, AND you will play your part in the healing of the Body.

This is not just fanciful. This is needed. Paul says "The eye can't say to the hand, I don't need you--- the head can't say to the feet, I don't need you."

Don;t you realize that Divine Providence has placed you right here, right now, for a purpose?

Time to access the graces you got at Baptism and Confirmation. Time to be a responsible member of the Church Militant. Don't flee. Fight.

See tagline.

`

[EdnaMode]

Just when you think you can get away from politics for a few hours.

[catnipman]

“devoted supporters of DJT before me and helped me come around”

wow! major kudos to both of you! them for trying and you for being opened minded ... we need this to be happening thousands of times a week, Jews and non-Jews alike!

[the OlLine Rebel]

Wow, don’t think it’s much better in our churches. Even the “conservative” types can get dangerous sometimes.

[MarkL]

Check to see if there’s a Chabad house in your area. It’s run by Chasidim, and while it’s an orthodox service, they are very friendly, and are happy to explain what’s happening in the services for those who can’t read or pray in Hebrew - Their Machsurim have both Hebrew and English. And the people and services are VERY friendly, and family oriented.

And being Orthodox, they tend to stay away from politics - they also tend to be more conservative politically.

Mark

[MarkL]

You might check to see if there’s a Chabad house near your town.

Mark

[MarkL]

https://www.chabad.org/centers/default_cdo/city/Worcester/state/Massachusetts/country/USA/jewish/Chabad-Centers-and-Synagogue-Directory.htm

Mark

[EinNYC]

I was very ticked off during the Orthodox Rosh Hashanah service at my local synagogue. I go to that one because, being forbidden to drive on the holidays, it's close and I have a hamstring injury. Otherwise, I would not go to this place. Anyway, the rabbi, for whom I have little respect or admiration, mentioned the Democratic primaries taking place September 13. He pointed out that Cuomo (who is a horrible libtard governor pandering to illegals, criminals, muzzlimes, etc.) was "against BDS", and so people should vote for him vs. Cynthia Nixon. I was gobsmacked, to say the least. What a jerk. He just moved even farther down on my "People I Like and Admire" list. Scraping the bottom of the barrel for something to recommend Andrew Cuomo is like sloshing through a barrel of dog poop with your bare hands, looking for a diamond.

I feel bad for you and your lack of a satisfactory synagogue experience in Worchester. There seems to be one Orthodox synagogue in Worchester:
Congregation Shaarai Torah West (Jewish, Modern Orthodox)
835 Pleasant Street
Worcester, MA 01602
Tel: (508) 791-0013

If there is a Chabad center anywhere near, I'd suggest that. Lubavitcher chassidim are very friendly and inviting, extremely willing to explain stuff you don't know, and are sure to have English prayerbooks around for those who don't do Hebrew.