How being Jewish has impacted Abi Fisher in many ways, both good and bad

“Jews were handed 613 commandments, and these have become the laws by which most Jews live their lives by.” Said Abi Fisher, as she opened up about her life as a Jew.

The Cheltenham Synagogue welcomes the Orthodox community just off St. James’s Square in the heart of town. Abi Fisher, the secretary of the community, spoke about how much she loves being a Jew and about the many rules she follows.

“This is my identity, and it gives me a framework.”

The synagogue is rotated to the East,

so it faces Jerusalem. At the synagogue, it is men who take the service. Abi pointed out the lady’s gallery at the top of the building where there is a separation of men and women during services for the simple reason that they should concentrate on their prayers, and not on the people of the opposite sex. She said: “Our beauty overwhelms men, and they cannot focus on their prayers.”

Shabbat is a day of rest in Judaism that comes in at sunset on a Friday and goes out sunset on a Saturday.

“You focus on being with your family and you are not meant to do anything other than be with your family.”

According to Abi, some communities in London spend almost 4 hours in a synagogue on this day. In Israel, Sunday is Monday. Everything starts again and a new week begins. Abi expressed that it’s an amazing feeling when you’re in a place where there are religious Jews and Muslims.

Rosh Hashanah is also the beginning of the Jewish New Year, and this is the busiest time in Cheltenham for the Jewish community. “We would get probably about thirty or forty people here which is a lot for us, and we also get members from London and Scotland who have ties to Cheltenham.”

Abi talked about some of the rules she follows such as not mixing meat and milk. She said: “Some Jews have two fridges. We must also be careful with bread too and what is in it.” There are certain meals at McDonald’s that Abi couldn’t eat – even if she wanted to! A burger with a milkshake would be a non-kosher meal. “Pots and pans also need to be Koshered.”

Women, if they wish to, will cover their hair when they are married. In the Jewish community, most women will wear a covering in a synagogue or a presence of men.

Finally, Abi expressed how although being Jewish has helped her through many tough times, it has also come with disadvantages.

“I grew up with having to look under a car for a bomb every time I got into one. I grew up with that heightened awareness that I could be a target. As well as the first time I was called a 'dirty jew' being nine years old.” She mentioned she never wants to go back to those days of feeling scared.

“I always have to be careful as I walk into the synagogue. I walk into the car park, and I am aware of everyone around me. I am aware of the cars and who’s in the cars and if there is anyone watching me come in here.”