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Worship Observation

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Worship Observation Paper

Assignment Sheet

THRS 2105 Spring

During the semester, you must attend/observe one service of Jewish worship and present your observations in a five page paper. (If you regularly attend a Jewish worship service, you should visit a different denomination.) A list of synagogues of various denominations will be posted on line. You are welcome to visit a synagogue outside the list as long as you check in with me first. There are three components to the assignment.
1) Preparation
Once you have decided what synagogue you will visit, you are expected to do a minimal amount of basic research on the historical background of the denomination, the worship style, its institutional organization and its place in the American religious scene. You may also want to do some research into the specific synagogue’s community you plan to visit, especially if it is of historic interest. Many religious denominations (and many individual synagogues) have web pages with helpful information. This preparation is important as it will help make your visit more comfortable and will enable you to get more out of the experience.
Your finished paper should include a brief (one and a half to two pages) introduction to the tradition. Keep in mind that you must cite in a footnote or endnote all sources which you quote or paraphrase, as well as works to which you refer or from which you have culled information. Take notes carefully so that you don't have to go back to relocate your sources. There are proper ways of citing electronic source material; you should use either Chicago Style or MLA style citation practices. It doesn’t matter which style you choose as long as you cite your sources.
2) Observation
Attend the worship service of your choice, making sure to arrive on time and staying through until the end. Since taking notes during a service or ritual would hardly be appropriate, you may want to focus your attention ahead of time by looking out for some of the following. These questions are merely meant to help you frame your observations-- you should not limit your observations to these areas nor should you expect to comment on each of these things in your paper.
•What is the setting like? What type and size of building, what kind of seating plan, decoration, placement of important objects, symbols, and furnishings that may be used in worship (or the absence of ritual objects etc.)?
•What type of service did you attend? A Friday night service, a Saturday morning service, a Passover seder, etc.?
•Was there a musical component? What type, amount, and style of music? Was it performed or created by the congregation?
•What kind of clothing was worn? Did participants in the service wear special clothing? Did the rabbi and/or cantor wear special clothing?
•Who participated and how? What degree of lay (congregational) involvement in the service? Ages and number of people attending? Who led the service? Did you notice distinctions of gender, race, or age in worship leadership? How formal or informal was the service? (Note that dress is not always a reliable measure of the formality or informality of the service. Was it primarily scripted or spontaneous?)
•What was the style of prayer or preaching? Was the sermon written and read? prepared but not written? spontaneous? in Hebrew, English, or both?
•How much time was spent in various activities--song, spoken prayer, scripture reading, preaching, etc.?
•How welcoming was the congregation?
•How did the service compare with other services or ceremonies you have attended?
3) Writing
After your visit, write your paper, including a brief section with background information as discussed above. Reflect on the events and surroundings, showing how these converge to express beliefs/practices as you understand them. Class readings and lectures should help you to interpret what you see. Attach a bulletin, program, or newsletter. Be sure to include the following information in your paper: the name of the synagogue, the date and time of the service, and the name and title of the worship leader. First person narrative is perfectly acceptable for this paper and even recommended.
The Format

Please use double-spaced Times New Roman font. Remember to include a works cited page. Also, don’t forget to attach a program/bulletin/newsletter.

This paper is due in class on Thursday, April 10.

As usual, email me with any questions you might have (andersoni@emmanuel.edu).

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