Unsuspected Holiness

One of the many downsides to being religiously observant is that one sometimes develops a slight blindness to the deep cultural connections our less-observant coreligionists have to Judaism.  This tends to happen less outside of Israel... perhaps because of the wide spectrum of observance and cultural connection that reaches from ultra-orthodox to reform and re-constructionist.

But in Israel many people (myself included) sometimes make the mistake of looking at Jewish religious connections as a binary - yes/no issue.  I'll admit it... I often mentally divide my friends into 'religious' and 'secular' (dati and chiloni) rosters, and in so doing ignore the less obvious connections (or lack thereof) that exist.

For instance I know plenty of people in the religious community who wear the 'uniform' and show up for the requisite ritual observances... but they view their connection to religious observance the way some might view a country club membership.  It is an inertial decision... a status symbol... maybe even a safety zone, but little thought is given along the way to a Higher Power.

By the same token, I am starting to notice how many seemingly non-observant people (no kippah... very revealing clothing, etc.) keep a very clearly defined level of kashrut (dietary observance), show profound respect for Torah and Torah scholars, observe holidays quite carefully (although perhaps not according to the same religious precepts I do), and believe fervently in a Divine Creator who influences the world and holds the keys to the world to come.

This blindness of mine was once again brought home to me yesterday as I sat waiting for a friend in Ben Gurion University's 'Beit HaStudent' (Student Union) building.  As I sat there I noticed that many of the students wandering the campus, as well as the clerks in the many stores and eateries, were wearing Purim costumes. 

This by itself wouldn't be much of an indicator of religiosity since for many, Purim is a secular 'dress-up' holiday not unlike Halloween. 

But then I started thinking about the timing.  Purim was two days away, so why was everyone in costume?  Then I realized that, of course!... there would be no classes scheduled on Purim.  So why not dress up on the day before Purim?  Then I realized that there must have been at least a tacit acknowledgment of the somber nature of 'Ta'anit Esther' (the fast that takes place the day before Purim) so dressing up would be inappropriate.  Therefore everyone was dressed up two days in advance!

I also noticed that there were many university-aged students running around with pre-adolescent kids in costume.  I recognized the older of one such pairing as a girl who often travels with me from Efrat, and I called her over to say hello and ask about the kids.  She explained quietly that many students had 'adopted' kids from 'troubled homes' in Beer Sheva and they met with them weekly in a big brother/big sister-type capacity.  I had caught them on their way to attend a pre-Purim party.

As I watched teddy bears, clowns, red riding-hoods, spider-men, and, um, I'm guessing hookers (judgmental?  Who me???), walk in and out of the building I noticed another thing.  Many of the students I had mentally labeled as non-religious instinctively reached up to kiss the mezzuzah as they passed through the doors! 

I'm not doing a good job of expressing myself here and it's really frustrating me! 

The best I can do is tell you that I am constantly being surprised by a Jewishness here in Israel... even among the ostensibly non-observant (perhaps especially among this segment of the population)... that makes the religiosity of many observant diaspora Jews seem affected and half-hearted by comparison.

Sitting there in the 'Beit HaStudent' I once again got a reminder of how little I know... and how important it is not to make assumptions about people.  We can argue (no that isn't an invitation) about the prospects for Jewish continuity... intermarriage... loss of tradition and the growing chasm between religiously observant and secular Israelis.  But yesterday I realized I can't worry about everyone and everything all the time. 

Some things just 'are'.  Take my daughter for instance.

Unlike her diaspora counterparts, the moment Ariella turned 12, her physical presence here allowed her to instantly fulfill a positive religious commandment that the most pious Hassid in Brooklyn can't hope to approach.  She didn't have to go to synagogue to do it... she didn't have to recite a complicated benediction to accomplish it... she didn't even have to have the proper kavanah (intention) to receive 'credit' for having fulfilled this precept. 

It just happened!

A while back I remember welling up while watching a Nefesh B'Nefesh video during some of the most unlikely points in the film;  When a new arrival is shown descending from the El Al plane onto the tarmac carrying a Sefer Torah (Torah Scroll) in his arms it didn't move me.   What got me was when a soldier standing nearby reached over to take the heavy Torah from his arms but paused first to instinctively kiss it. My heart skipped a beat!  And then a few moments later in the film... as the Torah is seen being carried past a woman Police officer at passport control, she instinctively reached out... touched the Torah... and then brought her fingers to her lips.  The gestures were so natural... so instinctive... that I know it would be the worst sort of sin for any man to stand in judgment of such holy people.

When people ask me how I could in good conscience bring my children to a place so potentially fraught with danger... I wish I could figure out a way to let them have a peek at what I see in my mind's eye when I think about those two small, almost unconsciously gestures of respect on the video.  I wish they could see the costumes and children and mezzuzza-kissing in the Student Union building at Ben Gurion University. 

Let them come and take pictures of the Kotel (the western wall)... let them take in the holy sites and study in Yeshiva.  But if only I could show them the hidden holiness found in the most fervently secular Israeli... they could never even ask such a silly question about why I would bring my family here!

No matter what the rest of the world may say to try to tear us down...

... no matter what terrible things we may say and think to try to tear down one another...

... there is an indescribably, untouchable, unsuspected holiness in all people... and all things here. 

And for this I am profoundly grateful.

I'd like to wish everyone an early happy Purim since I expect to be away from my computer tomorrow.