Cultural Immersion Project – Part 3

Events Attended

I also attended a Shabbat service. The service was remarkably interesting. They used music as a narrative to give their message as they taught the onlookers and followers about their religion. Six Psalms in the book of Torah, Kabbalat Shabbat was recited several times. The service appeared to be in a synagogue, but the congregation was all online due to Covid-19. We were greeted with “Shabbat Shalom" which means a peaceful Sabbath. The service began by the lighting of two candles, and the Rabbi coincided over the service. The Rabbi read from a prayer book and suggested the onlookers and followers read from their personal prayer book; the Rabbi lead us with several prayers from the prayer book. Throughout the service, he instructed and demonstrated to the worshipers to rise and sit. Close to the end of the ceremony the Rabbi read the week's Haftarah.

Comparison with Expectations

Later, as I listened to an interview with a Jewish woman on Facebook I was intrigued to learn and understand parts of the Jewish social life. Some onlookers assumed all Jewish people are rich, but the host assured everyone that is a myth. Another onlooker thought pregnant Jewish women carried out various math exercises throughout their pregnancy to ensure their children were proficient in math before birth. The host laughed and stated like all pregnant women they read books out loud and play good music throughout their pregnancy to their awaiting child. The same onlooker stated they read it and it has been proven. The host cleverly stated you cannot believe everything you read. Another myth was Jewish people are the leaders of the world. The host stated Americans are the leaders. There was an important question about a disagreement between Muslims and the Jewish people. It was stated the Jewish people hate Muslims and vice versa. The host stated they hate no one but because it is two different religions it’s obvious, they share different views in life.

Emotional Impact

When I was younger, I was curious about what others were doing in their religion, but this was the first time other than attending Catholic service, I attended a service different from my religion. I would say Judaism is quite different from what I am accustomed to as a Christian. However, I was anxious to watch the services online. Although I did not understand everything that was taking place during the service and discussion both encounters were equally interesting. I found myself discovering new things from both. I appreciate the experience and the opportunity to learn from a different religious conviction and ethnic experience. It was intriguing to see and hear the passion during the service and the dialogue presented.

Every time I am presented with the opportunity to learn new things, it always invigorates my belief and development as a person. Learning something different from what you are used to is interesting and I felt honored and passionate about what I have learned. As of now, if I am asked what happen on the Shabbat services, I will be in a position to explain with confidence since I have taken my time to observed the full service and appreciate the Jewish culture. Combining what I have seen along with the research, has educated me on the differences from my Christian service as well as the similarities.

I have been a Christian all my life, but I have attended a few catholic services. I learn that the Rabbis, who are Jewish religious leaders, are expected to offer study sessions to the congregation with the aim of achieving the best information and required instructions to the congregation. I was so anxious to attend the service because it was interesting, welcoming, and different from what I am accustomed to.

Key Things Learned

Through these events, I have learned that Jewish people are open to other cultures and invite others to join their culture. Adding to that, I have learned that Judaism involves a lot of singing and praying during service. It is rare for Jewish people to ask you to join their service, but they are not opposed to you joining their culture. I also learned that the Culture of Jewish people emphasizes the significance of a family. The Jewish people are a close net community. Their culture has a significant impact on the family and influences decisions among themselves. The Jewish community places a massive emphasis on education among its young people.

The main things I have learned through these events is the way Jewish people practice their religion and how they view mental health counseling. While performing my research on the culture of the Jewish religion for Project Paper 1 of Cultural Immersion, I learned that the Jewish people, in general, are at ease with the fact that they receive more counseling than any other cultural group. While I was viewing the Shabbat services on their synagogue, I realized they are keen on their religion and the health of their people. In fact, according to my research, I learned Jewish people attend therapy on a regular basis because of their concerns about an overall healthy Jewish community. It has been my observation the Jewish community has a positive view of mental health counseling.

Counseling Theories Validated for This Group

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the theoretical approaches that is commonly used and believed to be effective with the Jewish population. Rosmarin et al. (2019) carried out a study looking at the impact of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for depression and generalized anxiety amid the Orthodox Jews. These researches took a traditional CBT approach to be both religiously and culturally sensitive. The outcome of this study depicted that the CBT approach can be implemented by the religious cultures, while the religious content can be well-merged into CBT. This proved that CBT is effective among the Orthodox Jewish people (Rosmarin et al., 2019).

The other effective approach among the Jewish people are the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) which can assist couples under counseling to address their matters in their relationships (Johnson, 2015). REBT does this in a way that they rely on the couple religious beliefs as well as reduce the religious matter that might be presenting issues within the relationship. McGoldrick et al., (2015), explain the individual-oriented and the focused psychoanalytical approach which has proven to be affected when handling the Jewish clients due to their reliance on verbal expression, intellectual pursuits, and multiple meanings.

McGoldrick et al. (2015) also proved that Jewish people are more comfortable taking therapy compared to other cultural groups. Mostly, when dealing with Jewish people during Counseling, it is best that one make sure that they comprehend their culture since that will impact the outcome of therapy positively when Jewish people are advised based on religious beliefs, they tend to respond positively.

Conclusion

There are certain beliefs regarding the Jewish religion. Most of what others heard are misconceptions. I learned that Jewish people worship in a synagogue where they attend Shabbat services, the services are preceded by a leader they call “Rabbi”. The Rabbi instructs the congregation on when to stand and when to sit. Most of the time in their service is used in reciting prayers and sing songs. But Judaism has a great sense of unity. I have also learned that like many cultures they have not been absent from myths and bias beliefs.

References

Johnson, S. A. (2015). Using REBT in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim couples counseling in the United States. Journal of Rational-Emotive & cognitive-behaviour Therapy, 31(2), 84- 92. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1007/s10942-013-0161-4

McGoldrick, M., Giordano, J., & Garcia-Preto, N. (Eds.) (2015). Ethnicity and family therapy (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.

Rosmarin, H. D., Bocanegra, S. E., Hoffnung, G., & Appel, M. (2019). Effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural therapy for anxiety and depression among orthodox Jew. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 26(4), 676-687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2019.07.005