In the study hall of Yeshiva, thinking about G-d. I have my electric guitar and I am meditating on music in an apartment overlooking the East River. Yeshiva University, Washington Heights. I just graduated college at Emory University in Atlanta. During the summer, I got an internship with Congressman Joe Crowley of Queens, NY. I enjoyed living in Washington DC, but something was calling me to New York City.
My life centered on two topics. Torah and music. I couldn’t stop thinking about both of them, picking up books on Torah, Kabbalah, and meditation, and books on jazz, improvisational music. But, shouldn’t I get a job and get to work? Having known myself for quite some time, I pictured myself at a desk job not doing any work, distracted and looking out the window thinking about the dream I gave up.
With that picture in mind, I set my sights on NYC – to study at Yeshiva University. And, there I was learning great Rabbis, students, loving every minute of it. Studying from 8 am – 3 pm. Then taking a break, and going from 5- 8 pm. In year 3 of studying, I began giving music lessons and meeting more musicians around the city.
One day I was called for jury duty. Walking to the courthouse, a Sikh Indian man, with a beard and turban walked by me. I studied Sikhism and the people of Punjab, and I greeted him on the street, “Sat Sri Akal, ji” He immediately beamed a smile to me, put his hands together and said, “Sat Sri Akal, ji” as if I was his very brother, in his family. I couldn’t get over that feeling. I went to my apartment and decided to look up the location of the nearest Sikh Temple. But, wait, I am in Yeshiva University learning full time. On the other hand, I am a believer in the One G-d, who created all humans in the Divine Image and I wanted to serve G-d, the Jewish People, and humanity. Should I really leave out the humanity part, after the experience of family I received from the Sikh man’s smile and greeting?
I found the local Gurudwara in Richmond Hills, Queens. Perfect, I grew up in Richmond, Virginia and this is Richmond, Hills, a good sign. I took the subway over, got out at the stop closest to the Gurudwara.
Started walking. Then the thought comes in, ‘well, they are going to see you are visiting, and want to convert you, they are going to say they have the ultimate truth and my life would be better to give up Judaism.’ I felt like turning around, but I pushed forward.
In the Temple, I took off my shoes and covered my head with a scarf. Interested in the obvious newcomer, several friendly Sikhs said, “Sat Srik Akal” with the same big smile, but with a slight question mark. I said, “ah, yes, I am here to visit and is there any way I could speak with a Temple leader?”
“Well, oh yes, of course, Mr. Mohinder Sikh is here and let me see if he can speak with you.”
The door opens and the tallest man I have seen walks over to me. From the seeming heavens, he looks down and says, ‘come this way, my friend, to my office and I will speak with you.’
It’s a hot summer day in NYC, I can see this scene perfectly in my mind. The ceiling fans are turning, we are sitting on the floor and after several moments of silence, Mr. Mohinder Singh says, “what brings you here?”
“Mr. Singh, I am a student at a local Yeshiva, a Jewish learning center in Manhattan and, well, I love the Torah and my Jewish people, but my belief in G-d, my meditations, have led me to you, to find a connection to our human family, also. Is that possible?”
The same smile of radiant hope and family came across his face. “Well, Jason, you know, you are my brother, that is the truth. And we as humans, we have a lot of work to do on ourselves, and our understanding of our religions, the revelations given by our prophets or Gurus, we don’t really understand as we should. We need to keep working on our love for all humans and being better people’
“So, you don’t have the ultimate truth and I don’t need to become a Sikh?”
He laughed quietly, “Why would you want to be a Sikh, what would that change? Did you work on yourself or just choose another group? No my friend, we are very imperfect humans and changing groups wouldn’t change you. You must work on yourself, meditate on G-d’s Name”
That one moment sent me on a journey to be a bridge builder to the human family.