Today the shul was quite full. There was a family celebrating the birth of a child, but I wonder where they've been the rest of the year? They come for special occasions, then we don't see them again.
The meal after services was extra good, though.
For a couple new readers, I'd like to correct a couple misunderstandings. I don't celebrate Christmas. I'm Jewish. We do not accept Jesus (proper Jewish name: Yehoshuah) as anything but a nice Jewish boy who was trying to make his followers behave. Some rabbis make a much stronger denial than that, but I'll leave my statement as it is.
Also. Orthodox Jews go to synagogue (or shul, Yiddish word). Conservative Jews go to synagoguge, too. Temple is the word used by Reform Jews. Actually, there hasn't been a true Temple since the Romans destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem, but the Reforms commemorate the memory.
Yes, there are several levels of observance among the Jews. Same as with the Christians. Note the difference in theology and practice between Roman Catholics and Southern Baptists. Probably the same with every religion since the world began.
I absolutely HAVE TO GET THE "GUEST" ROOM CLEANED UP. I want my granddaughter for a few days while she's on school winter vacation. It's an absolute chaos in there, and it's going to take some concentrated effort to make a pathway to the bed.
But not tonight. It's time for bed.
Shalom