Interview With Anna

Miranda: You have very curly hair, is it natural?
Anna: Of course it's natural, my moms hair is even curlier.. I think it's a Jewish thing.


Miranda: Oh so you're Jewish are you? Interesting, how do you practice this?
Anna: Well, you see theres many different ways to practice Judaism. There's orthodox and conservatives, reform and Hasidic.


Miranda: Oh wow, which one do you practice?
Anna: I'm a conservative Jew.


Miranda: And how does that differ from the other forms?
Anna: Well Hasidic Jews are the most intense, extremely religious, follow everything perfectly. Orthodox is just a level down, not quite as intense but still follow most things. Reform re-did everything in a way so women are also involved, hasidic jews don't involve women much.Conservative is pretty much the slack one it is a mix between reform and orthodox.


Miranda: So then do you strongly believe in the practice of conservative judaism.
Anna: I do and I don't. I don't go because of god and all that stuff. But i go for the community it's nice to feel part of something. I go to synagogue for the holidays but not every shabbat which is every Saturday not Sunday. I had my Batmitzvah when I was 14.


Miranda: What is synagogue and shabbat?
Anna: Synagogue is where we worship, which is like a church. And shabbat is the day of rest, it is on Saturday. God created the world in 6 days and on the 7th he rested, which was Saturday.


Miranda: You mentioned you had your Batmizvah, what is that?
Anna: It's a ceremony about becoming an adult.


Miranda: How did you celebrate yours?
Anna: I went to the synagogue, I did my torah reading and then afterwards I had a party.


Miranda: Did you do the traditional chair lift?
Anna: Yea, my brother and his friends lifted me up and carried me around. It was terrifying. That happened at the party though not at the synagogue.


Miranda: I would probably be terrified as well. So what is the difference between synagogue and church?
Anna: In synagogue Jews worship and in church Christians worship. We have a whole different language called Hebrew, and most of our prayers are sung, not much speaking is involved.


Miranda: Do you speak Hebrew Fluently?
Anna: Well I can read it and say it but I don't know what i'm saying or reading.


Miranda: How does that work?
Anna: Well I was taught to read Hebrew but wasn't taught what it means.


Miranda:Who taught you how to read Hebrew?
Anna: My Cantor John Friemen.


Miranda: Well I've learnt a lot about your religion, thanks for your time.
Anna: Anytime.