Arig Wageeh Elhamouly

Hartford Seminary
Religion as a Social Phenomenon

A visit to the Young Israel of West Hartford Synagogue in

West Hartford, Connecticut
 Shalom Aleichem! This fall, I visited the Young Israel of West Hartford

Synagogue and attended a Shabbat service for the very first time. I was dropped off

by car at the driveway, which I quickly remembered was a huge faux pas.

Congregants were dressed up and cheerfully walking alongside their families in a

scene that reminded me of the walk towards the mosque for Eid prayers in Egypt. It

was a nice day and the synagogue looked very welcoming except for the guards

outside. Nowadays, it is important to have security outside houses of worship;

something that is essential for safety but does make one naturally want to keep their

guard up. Afterwards, while speaking to the congregants, I was told that they did

feel safe there and that most of them were happy to live within walking distance. Cars

were one of the luxuries they couldn’t use on Saturday. For that reason, the real estate

around any synagogue can be prime real estate and get competitive and expensive.

The luxury of living near a house of worship is not one that I’ve had in the US up

until recently. Unlike Egypt where there is a mosque on every corner.

While watching the families walk towards the synagogue bright and yearly

tears began flowing. What a sight it was to be able to witness such devotion to God.

Saturday mornings, in the American culture that I partially grew up in, make me

think of “sleeping in” and “Saturday morning cartoons”. Yet here were equally

American families that were interested in neither. Further proof that “American” is
synonymous with so much more than any one certain way of life. The congregants

were mixed between young and old with most people arriving with family. They

were all dressed in beautiful clothing and seemed genuinely happy to be there. I was

escorted to the women’s section of the synagogue and took a seat in the balcony

seating reserved for women. I could see everything happening below clearly. Prayers

were being read out loud as more and more people starting trickling in.

I was fortunate to arrive early where I was generously welcomed by a few

regular Jewish congregants. One of them, once realizing I was a visitor, sat next to

me and continued to whisper what was happening; explaining how they perform

some prayers alone and some in congregation. I followed along as she went on to

point to where we were in both the prayer book and in the Torah translation. There

was a man leading the prayers and facing the congregants. He was the Rabbi.

Others were seated in rows both horizontally and vertically, all facing the rabbi. The

rituals consisted of reading aloud, reading silently, standing, sitting, chanting, and

then a sermon/talk given by the Rabbi in English.

It was a pleasure to follow along the ritual prayers as they were recited in

Hebrew. I was never quite in such close proximity to such practices and in so many

ways it felt great to see God being worshipped in a manner so close to my own, only

in a different language and from a different book.

 The prayers contain different segments, as explained later by the Rabbi, to

appeal to everyone. Some may like the chanting. Some may like the guided prayers.

Some may like the movements. While some may appreciate their quiet intimate

conversations with God while still being in the company of other faithful

congregants. The black cover for the written scroll and the wanting to touch and

kiss it, reminded me of the Kabaa, with its black covering and the desire for pilgrims

to come near it, touch it and kiss it. It is a yearning to become, in some way, closer to

the Devine. The words I read were also so familiar. Compassionate, Merciful,

David, Jacob – all of them present in the Quran. Even Hachem, which is used for

God in Hebrew, means destroyer of evil in Arabic. It is also still a very popular boys

name in Arab culture. All of these similarities made me wonder if I could ever be a

“neutral observer”.

Although I often wish public religious wear was a non-issue (I am so

frequently asked about the hijab), I found myself obsessed with the same issue at the

synagogue. In a world where we both want to be present and private, I wondered

why men in the Jewish faith were the ones who needed to identify themselves as such.

The answer of course, was the same as the one mentioned in the Quran about the

hijab; so they can be identified. Women were also required to cover their hair and do

so by wearing a small scarf or a wig to cover their natural hair. The synagogue was
split 50/50 with some wearing a head covering and others either wearing a wig or

not wearing anything at all.

Most definitely, the most popular and alive part of the service was when the

children appeared in the synagogue. They had been in Hebrew school and not in the

main prayer hall the whole time the service was taking place. Suddenly, they

appeared and took part in the last part of the ceremony where they were able to stand

around the Torah and recite songs that everyone seemed to know by heart, even the

children. Everyone was in smiles as they watched the children in the downstairs hall

singing and becoming part of the closing part of the service.

After all the reading, praying and chanting rituals were complete, everyone

went downstairs to a co-ed space where food and drinks were served on a large

spread of table so that everyone can help themselves to whatever they liked.

Crackers, Fruit and even cake was served. Everyone was chatting and catching up,

eating and drinking happily. Greetings “Shabbat Shalom” were heard everywhere

and in another half hour, some started their walk home.

Overall, It was a lovely experience. The energy was evident, and I was on a

spiritual high all day. Breaking bread with people of faith and gathering in order to

glorify and remember God is a blessing and a gift. I am extremely appreciative of this

opportunity. Shalom Aleichem!