Running head: JEWISH CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

Jewish Cultural Immersion Experience w/ Interview Catrina Ravenel Georgia State University

JEWISH CULTURAL EXPERIENCE Introduction

About 15 years ago, I visited Israel for the first time. I hoped that one day I could live there. I was a member of the Hebrew Israelite community at that time. As of matter of fact, I gave birth to my only son in the city of Bersheva, Israel. I speak some Hebrew, but I am not fluent. Furthermore, my wedding ceremony took place on the banks of the Sea of Galilee. Of course, everywhere I went I ran into Jewish people. Until this cultural event, I had never been to a Jewish synagogue, but I desired to attend one now for quite some time. This assignment compelled me to do something I always wanted to do--observe how Jewish people observed their Shabbat service. Before the Cultural Activity On November 30, 2013, I attended Beth Jacob Atlanta, a Jewish synagogue. Prior to attending this event, I considered one stereotype in particular about Jewish people. I believed that the Jewish people played a significant role in the slave trade. I would have been an adult by the time I learned this information. My parents did not discriminate against Jewish people. But, somewhere along the way, I must have read books that included such information. However, I do not possess any negative feelings about people of Jewish descent. Most often, issues in the media as it relates to Jewish people concern the territorial conflicts with the Palestinian people. I certainly desire that peace be achieved in the Middle East for Jewish and Palestinian people. However, I find no current reasons to be sympathetic toward Jewish people. Although, countless Jewish people were persecuted during the Holocaust, I felt sympathy then, but not so much now. According to Cohen, J. E. Jewish Americans are more successful than any other ethnic, racial, and religious group (2010). I had a moderate amount of exposure to this group. I have visited Israel on a few occasions and am familiar with many Jewish traditions and culture. During the Cultural Event My cultural immersion experience took place at the Beth Jacob Atlanta at 1855 Lavista Road in Atlanta. This was the first time that I had participated in a Jewish religious service. Men were seated on the left and women were seated on the right of the synagogue. The readings from the Torah was read in Hebrew. However, when the Assistant Rabbi spoke, it was in English. Many of the members of the congregation walked to and from the synagogue on the Sabbath day. The Sabbath is a day in which those practicing Judaism abstain from engaging in secular activities. My view point about Jewish people is the same that it is about most other people. I believe that there are descent and caring people who are conscientious not to discriminate against people because of ethnicity and race, while other people will continue to disparage and denigrate others. My point is, strong parental and familial influences are the factors that shape the initial perception of how people feel about other ethnic groups, (Schlosser et al, 2007). After the Cultural Event I was not sure how I would feel being a Black person at a Jewish Synagogue. Although I was the only dark skinned person in the synagogue, I did not feel uncomfortable. Later a woman from the West Indies introduced herself to me after the service was over. She told me last week a visitor was in the synagogue writing and taking notes. The visitor apparently did not know that on the Shabbat, that kind of activity was not allowed. The current social issues that I learned about this group concerns the Jewish support of President Obama. According to Guttman, about

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52% of Jewish voters agree to support a tax increase where they would willingly pay more income taxes to bridge the gap between the rich and poor (2012). My viewpoint has changed drastically, because I had not experienced an in-depth personal conversation before not had I researched any pertinent information about Jewish people. Moreover, in an effort to continue to learn more about this group, it would require me remaining abreast of reading materials and the media. This experience enhanced my career objectives by preparing me with the knowledge and ability to intelligently articulate the social issues surrounding Jewish people from an impartial perspective.

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References Cohen, J. E. (2010). Perceptions of anti-Semitism among American Jews, 2000-05, a survey analysis. Political Psychology, 31(1), 85-107. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9221.2009.00746.x Guttman, N. (2012, April 13). Social issues drive Jews to back Obama. Retrieved from http://forward.com/articles/154219/social-issues-drive-jews-to-backobama/?p=all#ixzz2mGBHIKo4 Schlosser, L. Z., Talleyrand, R. M., Lyons, H. Z., & Baker, L. M. (2007). Racism, antisemitism, and the schism between blacks and Jews in the United States: A pilot intergroup encounter program.Journal Of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 35(2), 116128. doi:10.1002/j.2161-1912.2007.tb00054.x

JEWISH CULTURAL EXPERIENCE Personal Interview with Jonathan Klein

Jonathan Klein is a member of the Jewish community and also attends Beth Jacob Atlanta Synagogue. I met Jonathan about two weeks prior to this interview at Starbucks. He did not have time to talk to me then, so he handed me his business card and told me it was okay to call him for assistance with my project. I met Jonathan at his job site which was up the street from the Starbucks where we met on Monroe Drive in Atlanta. Jonathan is a general contractor. Interestingly, Jonathan employed five men to work with him on this particular project. One man was Black, another Hispanic and the other was First Nations. On the way to the interview, I had generated a few questions to discuss with Jonathon. But once the interview began, I mostly listened because Jonathans time was really short. He began talking about the 614 Commandments in the Bible. Three Books in particular addresses mans relationship to God; mans relationship to man; and mans relationship to the earth. However, mans relationship to God can be put on hold for his relationship with man. To make his point clear, Jonathan shared a story with me about a Jewish young man who wanted to pray on a flight around the time of the 911catastrophy. When the Jewish man was asked by the flight attendant to have a seat, the Jewish man was determined to pray to maintain his relationship with God. However, because the young Jewish man did not comply with the instructions to be seated, the plane was turned around. All of the passengers on the flight were inconvenienced. Needless to say, Jonathan painted a perfect picture about how mans relationship with God can be put on hold for his relationship with his fellow man. Jonathan began the interview by discussing his religious beliefs. Jonathan said, Jewish is not a religion but a lifestyle. Jonathan considers himself Orthodox Modern day Orthodox. Q: Do you or have you experienced oppression. A: No, not now I do not. However, in the 1960s, I experienced oppression from kids. Q: Black or White kids? A: Certainly not Jewish kids. They were White kids who would call me names or try to fight me. Black kids just called me Jew, Jew, Jew. Q: What is your greatest challenge? A: Cramming everything into a work week while trying to observe the Sabbath. Q: Have you been to Israel or plan to live in Israel? A: Yes, I went once a long time ago. My brother lives there now. He has lived there for 26 years now. I know that should be my desire to live in Israel. When I tell people that I choose not to live in Israel they look at me a certain kind of way. But, I feel that my place to serve God is here helping with the Jewish community. At the synagogue, I read the Torah in Hebrew sometimes during the service. I was prepared well for that growing up. I was also religious. But, as I get older, I guess I become more religious about some things. Q: Is your wife Jewish or do you marry outside your ethnicity? A: My wife is of Jewish background too. That makes it a lot easier too.

JEWISH CULTURAL EXPERIENCE Q: Will your children marry someone who is Jewish also? A: I hope so. If they do not, that means that I did not sell the product well. My great-great grandfather was a Rabbi in New York and had 10 children. They were Orthodox observant Jews. After the interview was over, I thank Jonathan. He apologized to me because he had to end the interview so abruptly. Jonathan was very nice. He agreed to meet me the next day at the synagogue for service. Q: How should I dress for service? A: Where a skirt. Make sure your clothes are loose fitting. We are not into sexy. What you have on now is fine just wear a skirt. Q: Should my hair be covered? A: No. The Jewish women have to wear one, but not you. My wife may be attending service tomorrow. If so, you can meet my wife too.