So. I wrote an e-mail to the hasidic-liberal synagogue two weeks ago. They didn't answer so far.
They have no public phone number (anymore), but active social media accounts, which I could contact.
Should I wait? Or not?
This might have been easier two months ago, and I'm afraid something might happen and it will become much harder. I could also send them a membership application, since they offer this publicly. I think it's weird though.
returning to this adventure ...
Religious communities are probably similar to other semi-formal group settings. Been doing volunteer work forever. Just, well, it was never very important to me. I don't do well in social situations under pressure.
They finally answered and invited me for Shabbat!! Just in time before I would've tried to go there in person and hope to meet some one. (excited in a positive and negative way at the same time)
Let's see how long it takes until they tell me what time I should come and if there's anything I should bring.
Ok ok. Trying to welcome the surprise. First Shabbat in February I will attend. Today would have been too little time to prepare myself mentally.
Oh no oh no oh no 🙈
@hundertsieben It's great you are being invited. Given current conditions you'll need to forgive them if they quiz you at first - they need to be safe so they need to strictly vet people.
Once you are accepted, just relax. Ask someone to help you - they will - just explain you need help where to go, what to do, they will help you.
Main thing is to relax and just participate to the extent you can. There will be kiddush after - you'll be invited for that. Aim to find 1 person to help you.
@hundertsieben Are you talking about prepared food contributions? I think a good rule of thumb (I don't know the context you are in) is something prepackaged and supervised at the most traditional Orthodox level you can. i.e. You can never be too kosher.
@terryb I live in a medium sized city in Germany. I can order something certified kosher, which I won’t, or not bring anything. Those are the choices.
They are meeting at the synagogue, so my question would also be if I should cover my head, but probably it’s ok whatever I do.
@hundertsieben You say you "won't" order something certified kosher. So it becomes a matter of personal choice not to, even though you have a potential need to guarantee a level of kashrut.
To me it's a matter of respect. I'm not religious, I eat non-kosher takeaway meals, though not forbidden items. I wouldn't take non-kosher food to anyone though, unless I knew they were less kosher than I.
And though I don't wear a hat routinely I will on any Jewish institution's premises
@terryb I‘m not against ordering something certified kosher, the thing is I don’t know how these products taste because the only I’ve found are canned. So I don’t know if I’ll like it, if anybody at the meeting will eat it, and it seems like a possible waste of food to me. I might do it in the future, if it makes sense. You can’t order freshly made kosher food here 🙄
I won't take food probably, unless they tell me I should.
I don’t know how orthodox Jews do it. Maybe avoid to live in Dresden (even though we have a small orthodox community here as well).
@hundertsieben Small UK communities often have a kosher run once a week and collect stuff from a bigger centre. The shul may even host a weekly shop. So, for example, Birmingham claims to be the UK's second city.(They aren't but that's a different argument). However their Jewish population is relatively tiny. They do/did weekly kosher food runs up to Manchester and then use the shul hall.
@hundertsieben They get a van and a list and drive up to Manchester (which is really the second city btw) to a kosher wholesaler's and bring down the items requested. Especially meat and challah. With maybe some other store cupboard kosher basics.
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