Temple Beth Shalom
When you first enter Temple Beth Shalom and you walk towards the sanctuary, you see these pieces of art that hold significance to the synagogue.
Our group was then shown three different, very special Torahs. We were shown one that is usually used for teaching, one that was very well preserved from the Holocaust, and one that’s mainly used for the services that are held in the synagogue.
Guru Ravidass Gurudwara Sahib, Burlington
In the afternoon we visited the Burlington Gurdwara, and we were taught different ways of showing respect when in a Sikh temple, such as covering your head before entering the temple, taking off your shoes, and bowing down before sitting down.
Our group was also taught a brief lesson on the central Sikh scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, and how we should treat everyone and everything equally, even if someone is of higher status or homeless. And helping people should be its own reward, rather than expecting to receive something in return.
We also learned that the Guru Granth Sahib is treated as a living person, as a guru. There are rituals at nighttime to take the scripture to its bed in its own room, to respectfully prepare it for rest.
What Did we Learn?
What we learned today was the importance of religious respect and equality, and how it does not only come from what you say, but also what gestures you make, whether that’s sitting down when eating or just taking your shoes off to respect the sacred space. It teaches us to show respect even if your religious views don’t align with other people’s. This can also be said for the space itself, because to be respected and sacred, it doesn’t have to be filled with eye-catching designs and art; some could be as simple as just putting a picture on the wall or carpet on the floor, it shouldn’t matter what’s there to make it a sacred space.