Rabbi Marc D. Angel, in his start-of-the-week email, writes about the beauty of the Sanctuary and then asks:
What would happen, though, if upon entering the sanctuary the worshiper found papers strewn on the floor or other litter scattered about randomly? What impression would be made if the priests arrived late for the service, or if they chatted and joked with each other? What if the High Priest was busy reading a book rather than attending to the ceremonies of the sanctuary? What if the others who attended the sanctuary were busy socializing rather than focusing on the service?
In synagogues that are used exclusively as synagogues, order usually prevails.
That doesn't mean you won't find someone reading something other than a sedur or humash, but you won't normally find books and flyers scattered on tables and chairs.
I usually unlock the door to the netz (sunrise) minyan where I don tallit and tefillin.
I know that when I flip on the lights I'll be greeted by books of various types - talmuds, humashim, musar - scattered on many, if not all, tables.
No one, it seems, knows how to return a book to its place.
Where there are no books, very often tallit/tefillin bags are left on the tables. That's not so bad IF the owners show up for the minyan. Since the synagogue now has a late minyan, it would be nice of the folks from either minyan would find a place for their gear other than on the shared tables. We don't buy seats so there is no proprietary ownership; first come, first served or, alternatively, "you snooze, you loose."
Most of the congregants are Americans of Mizrahi (Egyptian, Syrian, Iraqi) descent; a few are ex-pat Israelis who did time in the IDF. Likewise, most have gone from Mommy to Wife and - apparently - never learned to pick up after themselves. I'm not sure this behavior is limited to Mizrahi males or even males who missed out on spending time with the military - Israel, U.S., or otherwise.
(Yes, Virginia, I did play at being military, serving in the USAF back as America "transitioned" from the "police action" in Korea to "military advisory groups" in Vietnam, and yes, Virginia, I DO return books I use to their place.)
R. Angel goes on to note that:
"The physical sanctuary was still beautiful. The priestly robes were still glorious. But somehow, the sense of holiness would be dramatically missing. What makes holiness is not merely the physical structure or priestly garments or technical ceremony: holiness is evoked by the spirit of reverence which people bring to the sanctuary. If the ingredient of holiness is missing from the participants in the service, then the physical beauty and splendor become empty shells. The body may be intact, but the soul is missing.
"The Mishkan and the later Temples in Jerusalem set the model for Jewish worship. The physical structures and accouterments were splendid; and the spiritual content of the service was to be conducted with proper devotion. When the spirit of holiness was absent among the priests and among the people, the Divine Presence itself was driven from the Temple.
"The Shulhan Arukh, the classic code of Jewish law, has a special section on the sanctity of the synagogue (Orah Hayyim 151). The laws underscore the separateness and specialness of this sacred structure. It is forbidden to act in a light-headed fashion in synagogues. Silly laughter, extraneous conversation, eating and drinking are forbidden in these holy places. If one finds people talking and joking, one feels that the holiness of the synagogue has been defiled. (Emphasis mine)
"The sanctity of synagogues is not only exemplified by the rules governing behavior within them; the physical structure must be respected. The Shulhan Arukh notes that it is customary to keep synagogues clean and to light candles in them as a sign of honor. If one enters a synagogue and sees papers, books and prayer shawls strewn around, one feels that the sanctuary has been diminished."
When it comes to talking, no one group seems to have a franchise. I'm told Ashkenazim talk as much as - perhaps more - than Sefardim and Mizrachim. I left a congregation partly because of the constant chatter during services. (Several of the talkers followed me to my new minyan and even the rabbi has been known to chat with members during korbanote.)
After all, synagogue is a social club, right?
I encourage my friends who want to chat to take the conversations outside (as long as we have 10 for kadish). It's OK is someone has pressing business that cannot wait until after Aleynu - some folks have to be at work early and consequently cannot hang around to the end.
If anyone wants to turn the synagogue into a social club, let them come before or after services.
As for this scrivener, when I open the door in the morning, I grab a copy of Rambam's Mishneh Torah (I'm on the second of five books now) - read until time for korbanote and just before donning tallit and tefillin, I put the book back in its place on the shelf. I really do "practice what I preach."
Change you passwords frequently.
