I went to shul to watch the Super Bowl. The beautiful circumstances of my life have placed me between synagogues, i.e. Between movements or branches (think denominations), as I work on conversion from my agnostic Christian upbringing toward an orthodox Judaic life. I could not have had a better window seat had I asked for one expressly.
The Super Bowl is an American pastime in which I usually only partake of minimally, meaning, I enjoy the snack platter spectacle. Both the snack display and snacker antics. This is usually the highlight of my Super Bowl party experience, should I attend one. I've truly never been much into the whole winners & losers thing, I've never liked the whole paradigm. Yes, I'm the one at your football party who doesn't know who's playing. I may be in the corner petting your dachshund. Recently I have felt the need to do everything I can that is American, in the company of other Americans and getting to know them better. Getting to know us better. This particular group is a safe group for me; I know I'm welcome here. Oh I do have further plans. Interfaith groups, BLM meetings if they allow pasty white girls. Tonight is not the hard work, tonight is the fortification. I don't care about the outcome of the game. It's kind of fun to watch, I can see why people get hooked. I came here though for the company & the energy. Not the snack platter experience, not tonight. We watch the big screen in the Yeckes Chapel, built in 1924 and part of the first synagogue in Palm Beach county. Energy. Love. Survival continuum and a certain kind of modest pride. The chapel is now part of Temple Beth-El, a synagogue of the conservative branch of Judaism. In this place I have found a clean kind of straightforward history based learning, a marked difference from the timeless kabbalistic education in which I am also entrenched. Well, there can certainly be an apple tree & an orange tree growing on the same lot. Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree. In almost any given choice, one has their favorite. Now, have you ever put an orange & an apple together in a bag to ripen? Each makes the other taste sweeter. And here is one thing to do with Difference.
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