Tags
Ashkenazi Jews, Benny, Beth Shalom, jew, Kiddush, minyan, Rabbi, scam, Shabbat, synagogue, Traditional Service
While the major power struggles go on, other things pass with an less than an eye brow raise.
Burton left the community with his new wife. He had been a point of gravity. Faithful, observant, popular. and most of all, reliable.
When he had returned for a 3 week pack up and go, after spending about six months abroad, Ratty was on him like white on rice, convincing him that the ‘foreigners’ were trying to ‘split’ the congregation.
By the time the ‘renegades’ got in touch with him, he was pretty well poisoned, and as he had so many things to do, for tragedy had struck at various junctions, he never was able to visit the Traditional Service before it died.
His leaving Kaka left a hole in those who had known him.
Rick, attacked on his first attendance at the Traditional Service, almost dragged into the Reform Service, never returned to the synagogue. He had his own problems and wasn’t going to be caught up in situations which could only end badly for him; as being way down on the Unentitled list he knew how expendable he was.
Many ‘regulars’ became irregular. Mrs. Deans and her son used to be Friday stalwarts, then became monthly visitors.
Sheila, after her conversion, ceased to attend, then came once after her brother died.
Dov, who had resigned as Treasurer was replaced by one of the Molochs who never came, save when his father died;, then a Friday Kaddish, then into the abyss.
A few ‘talks‘ organised by Beth Shalom that had usually brought congregants to the synagogue failed miserably. People just couldn’t be bothered. Those that were borderline Entitled and those who were securely unEntitled didn’t like being at the Synagogue.
Chief among their discomfort were the slap dab secular-touching-Xian-sermons that C.G. put together in his car when he drove in.
Unlike the past where the ‘Spiritual’ Leaders, (Ratty was one of Three) would prepare and give valuable talks, so people would come out to see them because they knew they would get some spiritual food, hearing C.G., considering how horrible the sound of his voice, how dull and poor his speeches, felt more spititual not coming to service.
Instead of bringing people in, C.G. was chasing them away. The only one who had noticed was Pharaoh, who now had little influence.
Mr. Porter, the Caretaker, had originally been so industrious. After all, he had a free house, free water, free electricity, and a salary, so tried to do everything as early and as complete as possible. This lasted six months, for then, realising he was working for pompous fools, waited until he was told before he did anything.
What he did was always done badly, if done at all.
A few demurrers; “I’d need a ladder for that…” or, “That would require a plumber...” would have Hand Puppet raise a flabby hand and walk off.
Porter was supposed to open the synagogue at about four on a Friday and make sure it was clean, fresh sand on the floor, and lights turned on. Some times people were arriving for the 5:30 service and Porter was just starting.
He’d wait for them to leave to lock up. Since he had other things to do on a Friday night he often didn’t get back until past 9:00 although the last person had left at 8:00.
On Saturday he was to get the synagogue ready by nine thirty. The early service forced him to start moving at 7:30. It’s end meant he could sleep until nine, then do his sloppy half jobs and get back into his house until about 3 pm when they all should be gone.
During the week, if there was a tour, he would start about thirty minutes before the arrivals, if there wasn’t, he would just relax. As none of the Board Members noticed dust, bat poo or garbage he didn’t have to either.
It was an easy job.
The woman who ran the ‘Jewish Home’ had turned it into a dorm for students. Because she got the same free housing/utilities and did nothing she became enormously fat. She did absolutely nothing, relying on a helper who was to clean the home. Instead, the helper spent most of the time cleaning her house, (where she lived with her son and niece) washing her clothing, and then, a few hours a week dealing with the ten apartments in the most off hand manner. The helper was paid for by the congregants.
The woman in the office spent her days running the air conditioner, playing on Facebook, communicating with her lover and enjoying a thick pay package for little work.
As she was ‘busy‘ another person had to be hired to do the tours.
The original tour guide was fired for stealing and not replaced. The Rabbi was to do the tours and complained so much that some one who knew nothing was hired. She would get a fat salary as did anyone who ‘worked‘ for the Beth Shalom.
Fat salary, bonouses for nothing. Xmas gifts. It was a great job if one could get it.
The only one who actually did some work was the ‘helper‘ who had to set up for Kiddush on Friday and Saturday, make sure the food was prepared and placed, the wine was poured, everything ready, and then, clean up.
She too got a fat pay package and could take some of the food home if no one noticed, or she got permission.
As all worked for Pharaoh; he’d hired them and set the pay packages, they didn’t begin to imagine that once he left their dream jobs might end.
Buddah, for example, couldn’t see the use of the Jewish Home and would sell it, or at least lease it for a few years. Old Dawg wasn’t getting anything from the female staff so could dispense with them with the effort of blowing his nose. Ratty knew what was going on, or not going on with the staff, but had been slapped down so many times by Pharaoh for complaining, he learned to ignore.
Vogle was oblivious to all but himself so saw and heard nothing. As the other members of the Board paid no attention to anything, they were neutral.
Vic and his wife wanted to take a more active part and they were encouraged by C.G. who knew that as UnEntitled nothing they said or did or wanted would be accepted by the Board. This meant he could gain their devotion and support without annoying the Entitled.
“That’s a Great Idea!” He’d beam and see them smile. He knew the Board wouldn’t even look at it before turning it down. After all, Vic was not one of the Entitled.
Selma, who had been an irregular became a stalwart by C.G.’s invention. She didn’t have any use save as a kind of angry bird. If he muttered that Pinchus sang too loud, Selma would race to confront him, dripping venom. CG. knew no one liked her and that she had one of the most prickly personalities encountered this side of a mental institution. He’d deploy her when needed.
The Goys came when they came and didn’t when they didn’t. Treated even worse than the average UnEntitled why they continued to attend service was probably due to masochism.
The Board didn’t want them converted. They accepted Sheila, of course, she was one of them. And the wives of Jews, well, okay. They’d allowed in Tenisha and Neville and Rob because they did have some status in society. But the Market Goys? No way.
With Benny and Dov refusing to attend as long as C.G. was there, (and C.G. planning to be there forever) it seemed Beth Shalom would remain on its steady downward spiral.