One Response

1. Milton Strauss Says:
   March 21st, 2010 at 11:13 pm

   Rabbi Denker,

   As you know, I resonate with your view that Judaism is a communal religion. I write to add another twist on why Friday night than Saturday services. More years ago than I can to think about, I read a fascinating book by Marshal Sklar (I think) called “Jews on the Frontier of Suburbia (or something like that…it was a really long time ago). It focused on the reform Jewish community in early-sh 20th C Chicago and their migration to Evanston. Sklar proposed the thesis that Friday night became the night for shul because going out dressed-up on a Friday night would not seem unusual to their Gentile neighbors. On the other hand, going out well-dressed on a Saturday morning would set them apart. I recall there was a brief time that the reform movement (at least in Chicago) considered Sunday services to really blend in with neighbors…That went nowhere.

   Thanks for the opportunity to learn from you and comment.

   Warm regards,

   Milton

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