Three angels perched on the sills of the windows above the three entrance doors. They watched as the devout came for the service.
“Akiba, has the neighborhood changed? ” Amichai was a young angel, new to the neighborhood.
“Oh, yes indeed,” sighed Akiba. “This shul has stood since everyone walked here for Shabbath. They came in families, from nearby houses that were never taller than the synagogue.”
Asaf chimed in. “I came here as a boy. We knew nothing of automobiles.”
“Has it ever been attacked?” questioned Amichai.
“Yes. Sometimes Yaweh lets us protect it; sometimes not. His will be done.”
Just Writing! 
The comment on the surrounding buildings is interesting. I noticed that too, and almost went with it
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Great minds, right, Neil? We lived in a Jewish neighborhood when I was in third and fourth grade. Strange how many memories are triggered by a simple picture.
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I noticed the buildings as well, but couldn’t get the story I wrote out of my mind.
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I haven’t read it yet, but I will. And I’m sure it will be right for you 🙂
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The reflections of angels is so precious. I like the thought of them there.
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Thank you very much 🙂
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A shame that there should be a need to ask whether it has been attacked or not, and for the answer to be casually in the affirmative. It says a lot about where we might be heading.
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Sad but true. Thanks, Iain.
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Fatalistic angels, who knew it?
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🙂
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Guardian angels who cannot always guard us from everything. Makes me think of the notion of free will-and the perennial question of why does a just God let bad things happen to good people. The resignation of the angels is disturbing.
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Maybe it’s not resignation. Maybe it’s acceptance of the authority of God.
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Just look at the houses now. What wonderful memories.
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In my first draft, I tried to work in the highrise apartment buildings, but there were too many words 🙂
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Often the way when writing for Friday Fictioneers!
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Yes, sometimes, sometimes not. Nice.
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I agree with Iain that it is sad that the question was even asked. But then, I asked pretty much the same question in my story… It is very sad.
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Dear Linda,
Love the title. I’ve grown up calling it shul. Even angels are subject to HaShem. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s the word I heard when we lived in a Jewish neighborhood when I was 9-10. I always thought it was funny that the Jewish kids often went to Shul after school to learn Hebrew 🙂
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I am smiling, thinking, that if you were learning Hebrew, It should have been called a Cheder; Shul, being Yiddish, would be for learning Yiddish,or really just a place of Jewish worship.
But I am splitting hairs on my bald head.LOL.
Randy
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I do remember hearing that word, now that you mention it. Thanks for the clarification.
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Enjoyed your story a lot. Thank you.
It was bittersweet – like so much Jewish storytelling.
Who are we to question God’s decisions; even angels have to follow directions.
Randy
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Yes they do. Thanks 🙂
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The things those angels have seen – the good, the bad…
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Like this take on guardian angels. Protectors of the street (I imagine).
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Yes–the street, the people, the building itself. I believe in guardian angels, and I did take some liberties here for fun and for the story.
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There are religious buildings all over the place that crouch defiantly between high rise blocks. Well done.
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Thanks. You’re correct. Sometimes, especially in Europe, a Jewish shul looks just like any other building in a row of connected buildings. They were not permitted by law to have a structure that was easily identifiable, and kept the true purpose hidden for their lives’ sake.
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This was a lovely write, Linda. Some get saved, some don’t. Like pretty much everything in life.
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Thanks, Dale. And that truth leads to the eternal “Why” question. Why does God. . .or why doesn’t God. . . .
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A well-written story, Linda. I learned something. I didn’t know a synagogue was called “Shul”. I like the way you brought in the heights of the surrounding buildings. That happens with many older buildings. I enjoyed this story. I could see those angels in my mind. You made it fit in with today’s sad episodes of violence. —- Suzanne
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Thank you. That’s a very warm compliment, and I appreciate it.
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Aww, this is such an endearing story. And I too did not know what a Shul was before this. I always love to learn new things while reading these stories… and I’m learning a lot this week. 🙂
Very lovely!
-Rachel
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Rachel, I learn every single week. It’s one of the things I love about FF.
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That’s the way God’s Will works. He wants to respect man’s free will so He intervenes so infrequently and no one understands exactly why some are spared and some arent’. It’s good to have recourse to the Book Of Job at times like this
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Yes, that book is certainly helpful. And I’ve just started a study in Ecclesiastes that addresses whether or not life is worth living. https://lindasbiblestudy.wordpress.com/2019/05/02/under-the-sun/
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This is very cute but also sad. I’m not religious but right there with you on the free will thing. If there was constant surveillance and interference by a deity, there couldn’t be free will. So we will have to work for all the important things in life ourselves, whether we believe in higher powers or not.
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I hoped to make this piece appeal both to people of faith and people who choose no faith. Thanks for your comment–helped me know, for at least one person, that it was successful 🙂
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Yup, non religious people also ask questions about what might be out there, is there more than meets the eye, and can find wisdom in scriptures. At least some do.
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Lots of history around the place of worship. Devouts have been coming here for a long time, when automobiles were not in vogue. People would walk in to offer prayers. Nostalgic!
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Thanks, Abhijit. I appreciate your comment.
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I do love the notion of guardian angels, though don’t always understand the will of God. But, he is God. I really enjoyed the dialogue and rhythm of the story. =)
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Thanks, Brenda. I don’t always understand God’s will either, but I know we are told in Isaiah that His thoughts and ways are higher than our own, and so I don’t expect to understand Him. Trust, yes.
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I love that you wrote this from the pov of angels, sometime guardian angels. Very thought provoking.
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Thanks, Sascha.
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I enjoyed this, Linda. I didn’t know what Shul was. I didn’t even notice the buildings in the background, I was so focused on the Shul 🙂
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One of the best things about FF is learning something new every single week 🙂
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This is such a great take on the prompt, Linda. And people do have questions about why God allows some things to happen or why He doesn’t intervene sometimes. Nothing is wrong with asking questions. And it’s okay not to always have the answers.
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Very perceptive and you seem to have an eye for detail.
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I usually do study each photo before I write, try not to focus just on the obvious. My tip this week was the small star of David over the center door/window.
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Beautiful!
Your writing reminds me of Frank Peretti’s novels.
Have you read them?
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Yes, I have–but it’s been a really long time. That’s a very kind compliment. Made my day 🙂
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I was in joy it was Dries have supernatural elements. But then, I write paranormal in fantasy so often. Thanks for sharing! Cheers, Ronda
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Thanks, Ronda 🙂
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I really like the way these angels take us back in time and let us see the shul in a historical, and personal way. Nice job, Linda!
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Thanks, Dawn.
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Angels have a tough job these days. Nicely done.
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They do, don’t they? I wonder if they time-and-a-half pay?
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Maybe hazard pay?
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Well done. Enjoyed the read.
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I think this story demonstrated the question believers and non-believers alike ask: if God is real, show us, give us something to believe in, a hand out here, we’re only human, help us.
Well-written.
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This topic has appeared several times in the comments. I don’t think there’s a “one size fits all” answer. By its very nature, faith does not demand proof. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
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Well spotted, the height of the surrounding structures. It struck me as quite odd when I first glanced at the picture. I liked the idea of angels looking on.
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Thanks, Sandra.I believe in guardian angels. I think these three may be quite busy in the next few years.
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Oh the building raising higher… what change.
and those attacks, they are coming again
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True on both counts, Bjorn. So sad.
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I like the hint at the changing times by referencing the high rise buildings. And a nod to intolerance that is sometimes experienced and yet there is continuity. Nice one Linda.
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Thanks 🙂
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