This was my first year spending Simchat Torah on Manhattan's Upper West Side. I knew that it was a scene, so, last year, fresh off an awful breakup, I avoided it.
That was a good choice.
Unfortunately, this year, CJ and I were not so wise. We decided to stay, made plans for meals (I hosted two, he hosted one, and we were invited out a lot), and accepted invitations to parties. In general I don't love chag* parties, I don't find them to be in the spirit of the holiday, and I don't really enjoy drinking all that much. It's fine, I'll do it socially, but it isn't really how I like to spend my time.
Basically, what I'm trying to say is that I had an awful time. Instead of recapping, in gross detail, everything that went wrong, I'll give you a few highlights:
1. Simchat Torah night: no women dancing. At one point it was me, my friend, and three little girls. Their mom actually thanked us for ensuring that there was SOME dancing in the women's section.
2. All of the people who came to services to socialize, not to pray. I couldn't even hear the Torah reading on Simchat Torah morning.
3. The people who got falling down drunk, and then were loud and obnoxious in the streets/hallways, causing me to hear the remark from a doorman that "I hate this holiday, it's worse every year."
4. Anyone who thinks that it is ok to get drunk and make out at a chag party is incorrect. Make out at home. Ew.
5. The lack of spirituality. I came to dance, and to pray, and it seemed like I was the only one.
Long story short, next year I'm going back to Washington Heights.
*Chag is the Hebrew word for holiday.
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6 comments:
Here is another one for the list. People being so drunk they fall down while holding a sefer torah.
Our shul was totally dry this year...nothing!
Then again, we aren't the UWS.
And it's probably not a great idea of people with M16's to have a drink either.
You're fleeing the Upper West Side for Washington Heights?? We just did that too! But we're having trouble finding a sense of Jewish community there. If you don't mind sharing where you daven (either here or by emailing me--Harley has my info), Auto and I would GREATLY appreciate it.
Next year you should come to our shul ;)
(Glad to see you posting.)
Anon- whoa.
Jameel- also you are probably not in a community made up of young singles.
Duchess- I usually go to Mt. Sinai, but there is a more modern indie minyan there now too. I don't have the details, but I can ask around. Also, I think that I might be a bit more traditional, and have more friends who are in the community up there, so it isn't as hard for me to feel a member of the community.
Orie- Thanks, we'll see.
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