Many of my acquaintances seem to know many of my other acquaintances, and not through me. I notice this a lot on Facebook. It is always so interesting and weird to see so many of my worlds colliding. A co-counselor from summer camp is friends with my childhood neighbor, a classmate from high school is friends with a girl I met at random. I always stop and say hmmm you know her? Wow I know how I met her but I wonder how you guys came to know each other... It is like separate parts of my life converging and it is confusing.
'Jewish Geography' is a favorite came to many. When you meet someone you try to find some sort of connection. Maybe you know their aunt, cousin, sister, great-great-great-something or other. But what I find even more fascinating is when there is no connection at all.
And yet there is. A big one.
She rolled down her window and honked at me. I took this as a sign that she was offering me a ride. I felt their stares on my back as I made my way towards the car amid traffic. Wondering, do I know that lady? Was I waiting for her to pick me up? Are we related? How come I get a ride when they have to wait for the bus?
Her first words to me were 'I got to do a mitzvah today'. It brought a smile to my face. She proceeded to tell me all about an orthodontist appointment she just came from. We chatted. She didn't ask me my name until right before she dropped me off. I thanked her kindly.
I didn't know her at all. Of course she asked about my family and tried to place me, but we were two strangers who may never meet again.
But she did a favor for me simply because we are family. We are one. "Kol yisroel areivim ze lazeh."
And that is all that really matters.
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