Eating, Sleeping, and Breathing Judaism

There is just no escaping it wherever I turn. I live in a totally Jewish world and love every moment of it. I live in a country where the national calendar is the Jewish calendar and the rhythm of life is based on the life cycle of the Jew. Whether you are religious or not, everyone is greeted at the end of the week with "Shabbat Shalom." My week starts with Sunday, which is a regular weekday, and ends on Saturday, the national day of rest. Friday is spent getting ready for Shabbat.

Even a trip to the supermarket is a spiritual adventure. As one walks up and down the rows of food, one enters the world of different Jewish communities, from Yemenite jahnun to Moroccan salads and sweet pastries, Indian amba and Ashkenazi gefilte fish.

In order to satisfy the various communities and kashrut concerns, one can find a number of different kashrut endorsements for the same product. I remember seeing an elderly frum (very religious) American tourist eyeing the dried fruits and nuts section of the supermarket across the street from my office. Not familiar with the Israeli system of kashrut certification, she asked the person in charge about the various rabbis who gave their kashrut endorsements. She received a detailed accurate explanation that went on for close to ten minutes. I do not believe that she was aware that the person giving her the kashrut lesson was an Arab employee.

Another time I left my car for servicing at a garage in the industrial area of Talpiyot in Jerusalem. I happened to have with me a volume of "Olam Hatanakh- Exodus," a critical/historical/literary commentary to the Bible. When I flagged down a taxi to take me to the office, the taxi driver noticed the book and saw on the cover an illustration of a Canaanite idol of a bull. He asked me about the picture. I told him it related to the "golden calf" episode. He mumbled something about Avodah Zarah (idolatry) and proceeded to explain that the midrash describes the physical appearance of the golden calf differently.

These are just a few of many anecdotes from my Jewish World!