Introduction

For this cultural immersion, the social work student took a trip with her friend Brittany,
who is also in social work, to Brittanys synagogue called Beth Hallel. She was interested in
going here because Brittany had told her a lot about her religion, and she wanted to check out a
service for herself. When attended the service, she was interested to see that Jewish traditions
that would be embedding into their worship. The social work student did not have any
expectations, simply because she did not really know what to expect. She was excited to share in
this opportunity with her friend.
Beth Hallel
Brittanys mom was raised Baptist and her birth father was Jewish. Growing up she did
not really connect with the Jewish religion or culture because she did not know that many Jewish
people. However, today she is a devoted messianic Jew, and is a leader at the Georgia State
BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministry). When going to the Messianic Jewish Synagogue, the social
work student really was not sure what to expect. She attended a service with Brittany, as well as
some other friends. The service the night that she went was led by the youth of the synagogue.
The student got to talk with some people after to see what the Messianic Jews believe. They told
her that Messianic Judaism is much like Christianity with Jewish traditions. They believe in
Jesus, and that he died and rose again, and they believe in the whole Bible, yet they also hold
true to be kosher and many of the other Jewish traditions. The social work student found it
interesting that there were police outside watching the synagogue, and when she asked her friend
about it she said that it was because some people do not like Jewish people. Another interesting
fact was that in her synagogue, it is a mix of Jew and gentile, meaning non-Jewish. Therefore,
Brittanys mom could go to the synagogue, but she was not a messianic Jew, she was actually
called a Messianic believer or Messianic gentile.
Internal Questions/After Activity
After visiting the temple, the social work student developed a high respect for the Jewish
traditions. She even got to participate in some of them while attending the service. The student
realized some of the struggles and difficulties that the Jewish community faces day to day.
Research/Summary of Interest
The topic that the social work student became interested in talking with Brittany
was about the violence going on in the Holy Land. The student would like to look at the effects
of people who are not necessarily from the Holy Land, but yet have many of their religious
brothers and sisters over there in the middle of the violence. She would also be very interested in
researching the differences between Jewish people and those who are Messianic Jews.
Messianic Judaism is a religion that is very interesting to the social work student, and she will
continue to talk with Brittany about it!
Continued Culture Work
The social work student hopes to continue to go to services at the synagogue as well as
talking with Jewish believers and seeing how she can best assist them.