Frequently Asked Questions

Question:

Are visitors welcome at services at Emanuel Jacob?

Answer:

Absolutely! We are delighted to welcome visitors to our services. Dates and times of our services are posted in our “Upcoming Events” listings.

 

Question:

Do you have to be Jewish to attend services?

Answer:

Not at all. We are happy to host visitors of any background.

 

Question:

What is appropriate dress for attending services?

Answer:

Our congregation is pretty informal, so for regular Sabbath services even such casual clothing as nice jeans and a neat t-shirt are OK (of course, dressier attire is also appropriate).

 

Question:

Do men (or women) need to wear a head covering at services?

Answer:

As a Reform Jewish congregation, we follow the modern Reform practice, which is that a head covering, for either men or women, whether Jewish or not, is completely optional (in more traditional congregations, wearing a head covering would be required for all males). The congregation does provide kippot (traditional Jewish head coverings, also called yarmulkes) for those who wish to wear one. More traditional Jews, including some in our congregation, wear some kind of head covering at all times in the synagogue, but most of our congregants do not.

 

Question:

To what extent is it expected that visitors will participate in the service?

Answer:

Visitor participation in the service is entirely up to the individual. Typically, congregational participation consists of joining in the singing or reading of prayers, both in Hebrew and in English. Visitors may join in the reading of prayers in English (or in Hebrew; the prayerbook contains transliterations into English of all Hebrew prayers), or may choose not to join in; either is perfectly acceptable.

 

Question:

When I googled Jewish synagogues in the Mansfield area, I saw that there are congregations listed other than Emanuel Jacob Congregation. What is the difference between Emanuel Jacob Congregation and those other congregations?

Answer:

Emanuel Jacob Congregation is the only Jewish congregation in the Mansfield area. The next closest Jewish congregations are in Wooster, Marion, Canton, Akron, and New Albany. Other congregations that may pop up in a google search for synagogues in the Mansfield area are, in fact, Messianic congregations (and the word “messianic” may actually be in the names of these congregations). While these congregations often have Hebrew names, may have “Shabbat” services, and may utilize other traditional Jewish customs and terminology, these congregations are essentially Christian churches. The people in these congregations regard Jesus as the messiah and the son of God, which is antithetical to Jewish teaching and belief.

 

Question:

I see on your website that you offer educational programs for adults. Can anyone in the Mansfield community attend these programs?

Answer:

Absolutely! For planning purposes, however, we do recommend that you contact us before attending these programs so that we know how many people to expect. Another benefit of having your contact information is that if a program is cancelled due to weather, etc., we will need to be able to reach you.

 

Question:

Is it appropriate for me to ask questions about Judaism of congregants and staff members of Emanuel Jacob?

Answer:

Our congregants and professional staff are always pleased to answer questions that visitors might have. We appreciate knowing that our non-Jewish neighbors are interested in our traditions and want to know more.

 

For more information please contact Morah Nancy Shimer at emanueljacobmorah@gmail.com or by phone at (330) 814-5538.

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