Impressions from Local Religious Centers

At the Al Huda, the first thing I noticed was that it was small but cozy inside. It had a very quiet and placid atmosphere. I really enjoyed Dr. Rasheed because he was very polite and kind, and he explained himself thoroughly so we could understand everything well. One thing I was really pleased to discover was the reason that Islamic women wear the cloths to cover themselves. At first, I had misunderstood this concept, but I learned that they do it to be modest and to prevent any rivalry or jealousy. It contributes to the overall goal of all Muslims: to be equal. Another thing I learned was that the Five Pillars of Islam were created by Allah, not by Mohammed.

At the Congregation of Children of Israel, I was in awe of the absolute beauty of the place. Everything had a very regal feel to it. I especially liked the sanctuary. It was gorgeous! I was very interested to learn about Jewish culture because that was one religion I didn't know much about. One thing I became clear on was Sabbath, which is a weekly day of rest for the Jewish. I was also very interested to learn about Jewish funerals. Unlike Americans, when someone dies in the Jewish culture, they bury the person fairly soon and have a set period of time (seven days) to grieve before they return to regular life. I think that makes more sense because it often takes a long time to recover from a loss and going right back to a social life can be difficult if rushed.

At St. Joseph's Catholic, I was again struck by the beauty of everything. I especially liked the Sanctuary where I found the stained glass windows to be absolutely beautiful. It was interesting to see the different stations of the bible all along the walls, but it was informative. Also, the fact that the church had created a little area for the Hispanic members to worship was very thoughtful and accommodating. Since I am most familiar with Christian culture than any others, I didn't learn anything specific that I didn't already know.

(St. Joseph's)