Posted by Red Tulips on Tuesday, July 17, 2007

I have been tagged by MZ and the Bow-tied baron, and so here goes...

1. I did not care much about Israel or Judaism until about a year and a half ago, when a certain person (qrswave) made me aware of my Jewish identity through exposure to raving antisemitism. (Israel being behind 9/11, Zionists controlling the world, etc)
2. I have a scar on my left arm due to crashing a rental car in Canada. I picked up passengers to drive with me at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, after I missed the 1:15 am Wednesday/Thursday bus to Toronto. Thankfully, I purchased collision insurance!
3. I read the Jerusalem Post and Little Green Footballs pretty much every day. If I have a staple for the news, it is those two sources.
4. Arab taxi drivers love me and have asked for my number on numerous occasions. Because of my dark skin and hair, they assume I am Arab American. If I was interested in Arab American taxi cab drivers, I would have a harem of men.
5. Postcard shop workers as well as train operators also seem to love me.
6. I currently am taking Middle Eastern belly dancing classes. I find it to be incredibly fun, as well as a great workout. I am really excited that I seem to have gotten the "shimmy walk" down! The shoulder shimmy is my next project. I am thinking I may want to get the belly dancing skirt, with the rustle.
7. I have recently become active in the Jewish community, as well as active in Israel advocacy. I guess you could say I am no longer an atheist, though certainly I have not reached the ranks of "baalei teshuva." I go to services on Friday nights and Saturday afternoon, but I use electricity on Shabbat, talk on the phone, use the computer, and work out. (usually) I also am basically vegetarian (who eats fish), but even that I am not very strict about. I follow more, but not all, of the laws of Judaism, in a large part because it makes me feel good to do it. I feel more connected to Judaism by doing these things, even as I acknowledge this connection could be purely psychological. With that said, there is one form of meditation that I think Jew and non-Jew can appreciate. I wake up every morning saying "Mode Ani," and it feels great to say it! It essentially means "thank you G-d for giving me life." Think about how great that is...you wake up, grateful to be alive! Truly transformative.
8. I have a dream to take Jews to India, to tour the Jewish sites of India. I would also love it for Indians to tour Israel. I really see a future in an Israel/Indian partnership.

I tag...hmm...any eight people who want to do this!

Labels: personal, Red Tulips, ToDo