Kehilat Romemu

Erev Shabbat at Kehillat Romemu, an Eastern-influenced liberal shul based in the West End Parish House, was a vivid reminder of high-school days filled with my own version of the Age of Aquarius. We sat cross legged in a circle on the temporary synagogue's floor, at the feet of Rabbi David Ingber, who's deep baritone filled the vast space. To our left was the percussionist, somehow shaking the bells strapped to her ankles.

Again, I was the new kid. Being in the church made that all the more clear. Part of me wanted to laugh at the Flower-y Children around me. The whole thing felt contrived - the inevitable swell of drum beats, predictable surges in singing. And yet... The people around me had now leaped to their feet, and were weaving and swaying through the aisles. The joy, the sheer joy, was contagious. I was laughing. I began to explore the physical space around me, stretching my fingers towards the ceiling, swaying and twirling. And when the Amidah came, I bowed for the first time, because the movement finally felt natural and humble.

The sudden stillness of the Shema caught me by surprise. The vibrant congregation was now calm. Each word was called out, and held, humming through the space until its natural completion. It was meditation. It was medication for the week. I realized I had tears in my eyes.

After the service, I walked through New York City with my friend Rebekah to the Shabbat dinner she had arranged - kindly funded by Birthright Next. The fifteen guests filled the space, and we piled onto small tables and one another to make room. As the hours passed, each guest shared a literary or artistic piece relating to this week's Parsha, "Chayyei Sarah". I chose "Departure" by The Velveteen Rabbi, a wonderful Jewish blogger and poet. Alisha, created the piece below.

I got lost three times on the way to Romemu, in part because because their address - 165 W 105th St., NYC - is nowhere on their website. But once there I found some things too: a new lens through which to view tradition and faith, and new attitude about what does and does not constitute prayer. And maybe, a newly re-kindled desire to wear paisley.