The Sceptic Blog

1,  Having just returned from Israel, I have to report that what I thought might be a short-lived nonsense is gathering momentum.  On entering a shul too often you find most of the congregants praying towards the Aron HaKodesh, but a small number insisting on facing somewhere towards the corner, having calculated precisely the direction of Jerusalem.

2.    This kind of holier-than-thou and holier-than-our-fathers attitude undermines the entire purpose of davening as a kehillo – unity.   Instead of presenting a united front, gaining from each others’ strengths and compensating for each others’ weaknesses, we present ourselves like this to God as a divisive and divided rabble.

3.  In each shul, the rabbi should decide in which direction to daven (almost certainly simply towards the Aron): and then everyone should do so.  Anyone who feels too holy for the congregation, should go elsewhere.