Sometimes when I go to shul – just about any shul – I can’t help but think about how the maintenance staff views what’s going on there. After all, the majority of maintenance workers at our synagogues and temples tend to be non-Jewish, and you’ve got to wonder what goes through their minds when we conduct our services, gatherings and such.

This thought particularly weighed heavily on my mind the other night when I attended Purim services at a local mega-shul (which I’ll leave anonymous). The scene was typical for Purim. The service, of course, was pure pandemonium, bedlam and decidedly juvenile, and understandably so—to get the kids revved up about the holiday. After all, Purim is really a holiday for kids, even though it deals with such heavy themes as potential annihilation, bigotry, revenge and sexual exploitation.

But what the heck, the kids love it! And the truth is, most Jewish holidays are so serious and morose, so let the young ones have one.

The aftermath of the service, however, is what surprised me a bit (although not too much). The auditorium at the shul was basically transformed into a discotheque, with thumping beats blasted by a deejay, adolescent girls on the stage dancing suggestively, kids stuffing their faces with hamantaschen and running amok, etc. I’m not saying I felt like I was watching a director’s cut of “Caligula,” but `over-the-top’ might not be an inappropriate expression here.

The corridors of the shul, of course, were turned into an endless sea of brash teenagers (are there any other kind?), flirting each other up like crazy and relieved to be far from their dorky parents and li’l siblings. The scene looked more like a Jonas Brothers concert than a house of worship.

Then, the aforementioned dorky parents, who were situated about a mile or so away, in another part of the shul, enjoyed their alcoholic beverages (which is encouraged on Purim) and took turns at shredding eardrums by singing on a karaoke machine. They, too, just seemed glad to be away from their offspring, and I couldn’t help but wonder when Bill Murray would show up, as his old “Saturday Night Live” lounge lizard singer alter ego, to entertain the crowd.

As I fled the scene, I couldn’t help but notice that the building was basically trashed, with broken grogger parts, shards of paper, miles of crumbs, and other jetsam and flotsam everywhere on the floors of the shul, as if Woodstock had just concluded. And again, I wondered about these people who clean and take care of our synagogues – what could they ever think of us and this surrealism as they watch? Because of job security, they must keep their lips zipped. But at times, they must think to themselves, “Just exactly what kind of religion is this?”

My guess is that they could write at least a few volumes about American Jewry in the 21st century, and where it went wrong.

I often think the same thing…  but interestingly, at the anonymous megashul you were referring to, it is interesting to see how much the congregants have embraced the staff… and vice versa.  There is one particular maintenance man (we will call him W) who stands outside the door of the sanctuary and shakes people’s hands as they come out.  He always has a cheerful word and a broad smile.  He clearly feels close to the congregants and I know they feel close to him.  So maybe, while it is natural when one has customs that are “different” than the greater society to worry what we look like…  and it is important to know we are representatives of our people…  one should not worry too much.  Those maintenence people and other observers have their own groups and their own customs that they might be a bit self conscious about.  While being self conscious, we should also be proud at the nice relationship we have with these observers.  I love seeing people chatting and greeting W and the security people at the door etc.  ....  I am with you until near the end of your piece… but I would not agree that “it went wrong.”  We are a vibrant community with people of all stripes… and we get together as a community for sacred and non sacred purposes… and I’ll bet those that observe us “get it.”