Did it ever happen to you that you are walking down the street and someone asks you why you are wearing a certain piece of clothing?
When I walk on the streets of Switzerland, I often get looks from passerby’s and sometimes even strange comments. Just last week I found myself talking to a young mother who approached me with her young son and asked very politely if I could please explain to her what the round cloth on my head is. At first she thought it was a medical bandage, but when she saw my little son, wearing a similar head covering, she figured it must be something religious.
I try to get used to the questions and comments and to be as kind as possible when answering them. I’m indeed different in my surroundings. Some people might have never seen a religious Jew before, besides for on TV or in a newspaper, and here they suddenly see a Jew alive, walking alongside them, who is even speaking Hebrew on his mobile phone.
The only time, when not even one person looks in my direction is during the famous Fasnacht Carnival. For a week straight, I walk through the streets of Luzern freely and feel just like everyone else. I’m just another person who tried a costume, which turned out not too amazing…
This week I had a very interesting reaction to my dress and look…
I had a meeting at one of the embassies in Bern.
I get to the entrance of the building at the appointed time, and there is a line of people waiting to pass the security inspection. My turn comes, the security official asks for my passport, so I put my hand in my pocket, take out my Israeli passport and hand it to the official.
My friends, a reaction like this I have never seen before… The security official, a tall and serious man, takes the passport from my hand, looks at it for a minute and as soon as he sees the illustration of the Menorah, a big smile spreads across his serious face, and with his hands he brings the passport closer to his mouth and kisses it warmly…
“This is the best gift the world has, that there is a country like this and a nation like this…” he announces with a loud voice.
The people in the line behind me look at me... I’m a bit embarrassed and think to myself, this is not the Israeli Embassy here, I just hope this guy doesn’t get fired :-)
It was a very unexpected reaction, but it felt good.
Rivky and the children join me in wishing you a wonderful and relaxing Shabbat,
Rabbi Chaim
Sandra wrote...