new adventures in judaism

More from the New Jewish Front.....

Last Friday, I attended a Shabbat potluck organized by Portland's Urban Jews, a large group mostly in their 20s and 30s. I'd not know anyone going in, but met a lot of friendly people. I'm told there are several hundred members in metro Portland, and we had about twenty-five at this event. A good Southerner, I put myself to work in the kitchen, chopping onions, tomatoes, and avocados in preparation for our not-so-traditional Friday night dinner of tostadas.

I felt a little lost during the "service" portion of the evening. I don't (yet) read or speak Hebrew, nor do I know all of the blessings and songs. But I wasn't the only one not actively participating. A recent convert had baked the challah for the evening and cheerfully talked with me about his experience of choosing Judaism, while other born-Jews teased, "Why in God's name would you ever want to do that?!"

The one negative was that it was really loud in the house, with so many people and so much lively conversation. We managed to get the room quiet for a few minutes while one of the members described her recent experiences in Central America and Africa, where she had worked for 10 months in HIV/AIDS education as a volunteer with the American Jewish World Service -- which she calls the "Jewish Peace Corps."

Three hours later, I was headed out the door, exhausted -- yet I was one of the first to leave. I'd not once felt like a wallflower -- the role I usually play when thrust into large groups where I don't know anyone or otherwise feel like an outsider. That evening, so many people came up to me to introduce themselves that I scarcely had a chance to move from my seat by the kitchen door.

Yesterday, I had a long meeting with the rabbi at Temple Beth Israel, a Reform congregation downtown. While my dean (also a rabbi) from New Seminary (New York City) -- where I finished my graduate interfaith ministry studies in 2001 -- has been wonderfully helpful and supportive via e-mail with suggested reading materials and other recommendations, I also wanted to sit down for a face-to-face to talk about my new adventures in Judaism.

I was nervous going in, though I needn't have been. We had a great conversation about this progressing spiritual journey of mine. Both he and my New Seminary dean made similar suggestions about branches of Judaism that might appeal to me. Besides Reform, I'm also exploring Renewal and Reconstructionist, with Humanistic Judaism also on the radar. The one Humanistic service I attended was lovely -- full of peace, joy, and love -- but was too secular for me; still, I'd like to try attending another service or event with that congregation to get a better feel for it.

I'm now on the "registration packet mailing list" for the 19-week Introduction to Judaism course offered by the Oregon Board of Rabbis, set to begin this fall.

Being a nature-loving, groovy gal who prefers meditating outdoors and includes physical activity as part of spirituality (vs. sitting around under artificial lighting), I'm still wishing the Adventure Rabbi, Jamie Korngold, was here in Portland.... Jamie has suggested that I might just have to start such a group myself.