Oh the People You'll Meet

It's amazing what wonderful people have shown up in Lincoln as a result of the Soul Train program that sends academics and artists from Israel to give lectures and perform in our small community. Ofer Goren was no exception! On first glance he was merely an entertainer...a mime who allowed his audience to enter his fanciful world. But after sitting with him for several hours yesterday evening, it became obvious that he was more than just an actor who makes his living by acting. He is a spiritual man and a mensch. Let me explain. If you were lucky enough to watch his show the other evening, you might have noticed that prior to pretending to eat a meal, he seemed to stop, wash his hands and mouth the words of a bracha. He did that intentionally because he believes that he can introduce key ideas about Judaism to his audience without ever saying a word! He sees himself as a Jewish educator who informs others about the history and key concepts of Judaism through the medium of drama. Although he earns his living through his art, his travels to small Jewish communities like ours are not done with the intent of earning a salary. His commitment to bringing Judaism to all places where Jews live has linked him up with Soul Train.

Ofer and I were talking and he said something to me that I believe I will always remember. "You know, in the time of the Beit HaMikdash, the first and second Temples, the people did not relate to G-d through their minds, they related to G-d through all of their senses. They watched the Kohanim do their rituals, they smelled the incense and the sacrifices, and they listened to the singing of the Leviim. Today we try to relate without our senses, only with our thoughts. Mime allows one to use the senses to try to learn how to relate to G-d. Everyone sees the story and forms their own thoughts, because there are no words being told to them. They must interpret the story through their own set of experiences." What an interesting analysis of how mime fits into the world of religion!

You probably can tell that I found yesterday evening's experience refreshing. I love it when Charlie and I have an opportunity to open our doors to a stranger and find ourselves exchanging phone numbers with them at the end of a long evening of conversation. I have a feeling that he meant it when he said he'd like us to meet his family the next time we're in his neighborhood outside of Jerusalem. I hope to do exactly that!