I am fortunate to spend this Shabbat amongst colleagues and family at the annual International Shluchim Conference in New York.
As I was going through security at the Boise airport en route to New York, I was stopped by one of the screeners. No, this time he did not stop me because I had suspicious materials, but because he wanted to ask me a question.
He pulled me aside and said, "Tell me, where can I get gefilte fish here in Boise? Not the jarred kind, the real kind."
Turns out he was not Jewish, but had once tasted gefilte fish and wanted to get some. I explained to him the kosher food dilemma and advised him of some websites and recipes. And I was on my way.
But that got me thinking. There must be many times that people see me with my yarmulke and do not end up commenting, but do notice that I am Jewish.
Ultimately, I look like a Jew and represent something.
News analyst Juan Williams recently got into some hot water talking about his reactions to seeing people in Muslim garb when he travels.
So what do people think when they see a Jewish person (yarmulke or not)?
This week's Parsha Toldot speaks of Yitzchak's blessing to Yaakov. Originally, Esav was to receive the blessing, but Yaakov disguised himself as Esav and received the blessing.
Yitzchak remarks, "The voice is the voice of Jacob and the hands are the hands of Esav." Even though Yitzchak's sight is compromised, he feels Yaakov and senses Esav's clothing.
Chassidic thought explains that garments are external, but represent the insides. When Yitzchak heard the polite, G-d-fearing voice of Yaakov it did not match the rough garments of Esav.
As Jews, our insides must match our outsides. And our outsides must match our insides.
If we do so, we have nothing to hide. And non-Jews looking at us will only do so with respect and camaraderie.