I’ve talked about my trip to Spain with my friend Bruce before. Prior to visiting Spain, my brother Dan and I were in Israel doing different educational programs. After a half year in Israel, I was filled with tremendous Zionist spirit and proudly wore my chai around my neck, Jewish numerology which spelled out in Hebrew the number 18 a symbol of life and a representation of my Jewishness.
While my friend Bruce and I were walking around Seville, we came across some young spanish girls who were interested in learning about us. One in particular was very curious about my jewelry, or in my case (Jewry) and pointed to the chai and said, “Que este un caballo?” (What it that a horse?)
“No,” I replied with a laugh. “Judio” (Jewish)
She looked at me very queerly and replied, “You do not follow el popa?” (the pope)
I looked at her and simply shook my head no. Considering that many of Spain's Jews were driven out in 1492, it probably shouldn’t have been such a big surprise to me that she didn’t encounter very many Jews returning to Spain. However it was a teachable moment to bridge different cultures.
Life Lesson 67: It’s important to learn about each other, to let people know where you stand, and to be proud of who you are, where you’re from, where you’re going, and that love, peace, and equality are the same things no matter what language you speak.
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