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Last night and this morning I was fortunate enough to have Rachel invite me to sit in on Yom Kippur services at the Ames Jewish Community Synagogue. It was really interesting because despite seeing many other religious practices in action I really hadn’t seen anything of Judaism other than Rachel illegally lighting a menorah for Chanukah in the dorms (Shhhh! Don’t tell the RAs!).

I got to hear plenty about jewish guilt (it was after all, the day of repentance) and hear plenty about how Rachel’s temple back home did things better…. errr…. differently.

I also found the Jewish idea of repenting to god (”God” or “god”? I’ll go with god being an agnostic shrug) for your sins against him/her/it (again shrug) and and directly repenting to individuals for your sins against them. I think that christians might have taken a step backwards in this department. All in all it was very cool to be there.

Oh, and since I’m sure Rachel will throw it in the comments no matter what I do, I did nod off a little at the morning service. Very briefly, but Rachel caught me because I almost dropped the hymnal that isn’t a hymnal because it’s jewish and has prayers. I feel horrible about it and apologized profusely afterwards. I was told that I wasn’t the first one to do it so I should feel bad, but I do, and I think I should. If I were jewish I guess I’d have to wait till next Yom Kippur to repent for it anyway.