Tonight me and my roommate adam went to temple (synagogue) which was an incredibly unique and certainly unusual experience.  It is where Adam and i went after that however, which was vastly more absurd.  We were offered by several aspiring rabbi’s to join them and the rest of the Jewish community in what we thought was sure to be a typical Shabbat dinner.  Turns out….it was….not.  Instead of Shabbat we were treated to an f-ing brainwash session, otherwise known as Chabbat.  

The dinner began like any other dinner.  The Rabbi gave a nice warm welcoming speech that made everyone feel right at home.  He asked all the first time guests where they were from and was so glad that we came to synagogue while were visiting Florence.  So we all proceeded to enjoy a wonderful first course of hummus and tomato-cucumber salad and terrific pasta and garbanzo beans with ice cold soft drinks, and i mean ice cold.  After drinking a glass of sparkling wine and sharing in singing some bizarre jewish songs i have never heard before, the Rabbi wanted to give another speech.  So we were all enthusiastic and curious to what he had to say.  He discussed this week’s torah portion and how we should all learn to value the things we have more and learn to lust less for the things we wish for.  It all sounded nice and spiritual as he was talking about peoples need to show more ‘brotherly love’ towards one another.  He then posed a question to us about why he thinks so many Jewish people come to Florence?  I had no fucking idea that that many Jewish people supposedly come to Florence.  He said it was not for the candies (which was he odd way of saying every famous landmark or piece of artwork that any other person on the planet would come to see Florence for) but for the sole fact that the Messiah was coming and that Israel would become a haven for Jews as it would expand to dominate and take over the rest of the mother fucking world.  CCCCCCCCCCRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAZZZZZZYYYYYYY Shit.  Dude was straight nuts. In the course of his nearly half hour speech he proclaimed that Israel would one day overtake Florence and therefore Florence would soon one day become a haven for da Jews.  Adam and i were just staring at the shock on other peoples faces the whole time.  Most of the other people were actually nodding in agreement to what the guy was saying.  We were in some radical Jewish dominance colt shit.  He then sat down and Adam and I strangely enjoyed our Turkey, green bean, yellow rice delicious tasting dinner as we talked to these other Americans that seemingly were the only other sain people at this place.  The Rabbi out of know where sat up and said virtually the same thing again and then wished us all a happy journey in all our travels.  We then sang more songs which we happily clapped along to.  It had been two hours and was going on eleven o’clock so we decided to say our thanks and we peaced the fuck out.  Our entire twenty minute walk home consisted of Adam and I discussing how crazy it is that this is a part of Judaism and just how retarded their beliefs are.

Side Notes:

-In some orthodox tradition men and woman are separated by gender during services to prevent mingling.  In the particular synagogue we went to, this was the case.  However, the way it was presented we have never seen before.  As we all went to enter the service, the girls said, ‘she you later’ and walked away.  They were seated behind us with a blocked view behind a crosshatched wooden wall.  It looked like the women were all in jail.  Adam and i were very uncomfortable at this.  While we had a perfect view of the Rabbi and the beautiful decorated temple the poor ladies could hardly see what was going on.  Wait it gets worse.  At the end of the service the men walked off first as the woman were roped off until we had all past by.  So messed up, i hated having to do it.

-We met this guy from Salt Lake City who seemed normal talking to us about art and his interests.  After the rabbi gave his speech he started acting like a totally different person.  He was shouting to the prayers and making crazy gestures while signing and later he started getting in a debate with the rabbi. 

-oh, and Adam, single mind you, was convinced that if he converted to this crazy Jew cult all the girls at dinner would blow him, lol…There is something a little off about that kid :)

I’m not a very religious guy (but still a man of faith and spirit) and tonight was religion overload…I’m exhausted