A Stroll On Sheinkin

There is something unique about Tel Aviv that separates it from the other culture centers of the world. The most obvious answer is that it's the eclectic mix of Judaism and secularism that gives Tel Aviv its own particular flavor. However, as I discovered today, that is not entirely true. In fact one could view Tel Aviv as a metaphor for today's Jewish world. In one block I saw: a man wearing a streimel crossing a street, a woman eating from a non-kosher restaurant with a mezuzah on the door, a man with tattoos covering his entire body, and a woman in a sheitel and hair covering running a small trendy fashion shop. Going through my head as I witnessed all this was, "Wow, only in Israel." We are on a pluralistic program, but as religious Jews we must find ways to both socialize and separate ourselves from the rest of the group. On Sheinkin Street I saw a variety of different types of Jews mingling with one another. We have a diverse religion and we must accept and embrace it.
- Jason Edelman (from 11/2)