Synagogue

Last week I visited a Synagogue in the city centre on Friday for the service. I had never visited it before, and had only been to a different orthodox synagogue about an hour away. For reasons of privacy I will call this synagogue shtayim and the first one I attended ah'at.

Whilst both orthodox, there were many differences that I had noticed. The first one (ah'at) I visited was on Shabbat morning and was filled with many men and women. Initally there were only a handful on women and many men, but as the service continued more women attended and their children.

This shul was filled with many Chassidic and frum people. The Rebbe told wonderful jokes and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. They all sang wonderful songs and I met some lovely, caring people.

The second shul (shtayim) was not as full, excluding my hebrew class who also attended. Im not sure if this is because it was Shabbos eve and therefore people were at home having Shabbos dinners or if the people from the city don't attend shul on Friday. It was also much grander than (ah'at) and there was a definite difference in the way the Rebbe spoke. The congregation also continually spoke through the service as opposed to the (ah'at) other shul. Whilst at the ah'at shul people embraced and greeted the others they did it in a quiet way without disturbing the other members.

I feel as though I should continue attending the (ah'at) first shul because I made many more sincere connections with the people there. Meeting two Rebbe's and the most wonderful Rebbetzin and her son.