THE MAN’S SECTION

I’m more of an ethnic Jew than a religious one. As a ‘buffet Jew’, I pick and choose which customs and ceremonies to observe. During the High Holy Days, I like to attend Yizkor, the memorial service, for my parents and other deceased loved ones. This past year, I attended services with my fiancée at her local synagogue. It’s an orthodox shul. Although feeling out of place,  I willingly abided by the orthodox custom of separate seating for men and women.  When we entered the synagogue, the downstairs men’s section was full. I went upstairs and found a seat in the men’s side of the balcony.   After settling in, I happened to look up and glanced at the women’s side which was at right angles to the men’s.  A woman was looking at me and smiling.  At first, I made nothing of it but every time I looked up,  there she was smiling at me.  Finally after several awkward minutes of this, she mouthed the words:” Meet me outside”. In shock, I looked around to see if she were talking to some guy behind me. She wasn’t.  I looked back at her, pointed to myself and mouthed: “Me?”  She nodded her head. After she left I stayed until there was a break in the service  and met my fiancée, Lois, who  had been in the downstairs women’s section. When we got outside, I said:” You won’t believe what just happened”. She laughed  when she heard the story.  Her only question:— “Was she good-looking?”

THE WOMAN’S SECTION

Stay tuned.