BS"D

PUBLIC IMAGE - NOT A REFLECTION

I was at a religious gathering recently, where I encountered a very interesting woman. She was Israeli, secular, & really a lot of fun to talk to. Then she asked me what I do for a living. "I'm currently writing a Sefer Torah", I answered.
"Oh, so what king of a Torah is *that*? You're just writing your own version, or what..?" she asked flippantly.
"No, actually I searched for a mentor for a very long time. Then I went to Yerushalayim & learned with him so I could become a soferet. I'm doing it exactly the same way that male sofrim do it."
Suspicion flooded her face. She looked at me sidelong as though she didn't know what to make of me, & then turned & began talking to another person about something else.

It's funny. I never really know how people are going to take me.
& however people classify me when we first meet, thery're generally wrong. For those who religion is an issue, some find me untouchably Orthodox, almost mythically religious. Others assume that I'm the exact opposite - completely unobservant & utterly disregarding of any of G@d's laws. For those who politics takes the place of G@d in their lives, I'm either assumed to be a right-wing Muslim hater because I lead a strict Jewish life, or seen as an angry champion of all things liberal supporting the overturning of Jewish Law.

I am neither.

I have no idea why people react to me in this manner. I guess people veneer me with their own stuff. Nothing I can do about that. & I'm probably expecting too much. Most people don't cultivate the consciouaness of Ticht Nat Hahn or pay attention like the people of Aldous Huxley's "Island". & besides, I'm probably guilty of this same thing, the crime of not seeing my fellow beings clearly.

Thank G@d there are so many ways to grow & change!