Prague Journal

Friday, June 24, 2005.

The Spanish Synagogue was packed this evening, with well over one hundred people, 60 of whom were part of a NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth) study tour. The students in this group were from both Israel and the United States. Among the congregants this evening was an anthropology professor from Bar Ilan who spoke about the symbols of religion that are part of culture, such as the lighting of the separate candles on Shabbat by women and the twisted Havdalah candle lit typically by men.
We headed out immediately after services to hear Tony and Martin and Musa play their last gig of the summer. The venue was the Golem Club, a private club with no street-front access. Unfortunately, it took an hour for us to find the place, since it is only accessible from the parking area inside the Sociological Institute building, whose doors were firmly locked. We walked up and down the street trying to find the right address, and encircled the unmarked building several times. In desperation, we woke the sleeping guard at the Institute entrance, who, after a bit of prodding, let us in. (It was only after we left that we saw a bell on the parking-garage door, with barely visible letters that said “Golem Club.”) The music was wonderful, and the setting intimate. I don’t think there is anything in Denver (or even others in Prague) that would compare. I wish I had brought my camera.

posted by JWinn @ 10:36 PM