It is an unquestionable theological principle that anybody who is even slightly less religious than I am is a godless heathen, while anyone who is even a jot more religious is a dangerous fanatic. That’s why I’m glad to have found a synagogue in London that is very near the level of observance that I grew up with.
But there’s one major difference that never fails to jar me. In every Jewish service I’ve been to, there’s always been a “prayer for our country,” which asks that wisdom be granted to our nation’s leaders. In the US, I’ve seen some variations that specifically mention the President and the vice-president, and others that just cover all the bases by praying for “all who exercise just and rightful authority.”
But at our synagogue in London, the prayer includes “the Queen and her advisors.” That’s logical enough, but it always feels a little odd to my rebellious Colonial soul to be praying for the Queen.
In any case, shana tovah to my Jewish readers, Ramadan mubarak to my Muslim readers, and to everybody else, erm, have a nice day.