A Judaism devoid of purpose cannot last

Teaching in the old city of Jerusalem, one develops a certain awareness of the different types of people who can wander in off the street. Many of the people who frequent the old alleyways and ancient stones of Jerusalem are incredible people with incredible stories. But every once in a while you can get real characters walking through your door. We once had a fellow wander in who was absolutely convinced that he was King David. (In fact, there is a medical term for a specific mental disorder that affects people who may visit Jerusalem and have too intense a spiritual experience, resulting in the conviction that they are prophets or the like — The Jerusalem Syndrome.)

One day, a few minutes after my class had begun, a fellow wandered in and sat down in the last remaining seat, right next to mine. (The last empty seats in any class will always be the ones up front nearest the teacher, a throwback, I think, to some deeply rooted trauma we all share from first grade.)

Something about him seemed a bit “off,” so I kept my eye on him, obviously not wanting to react in any way that might embarrass him, yet aware of a responsibility to the rest of the participants in the program and their right to remain focused on the study they were pursuing.

I soon noticed he was staring at my coffee mug, bringing his face really close to it, with what seemed like a mad look in his eye, so, not wanting to break the flow of the class, I stood up as I spoke and gradually moved towards the other side of the room, figuring this way people wouldn’t notice him.

Then he did a really odd thing: he picked up my mug, half full of coffee, continuing to stare at it. Now that’s just not normal; and then he placed his lips over the edge of my mug and took a sip of the coffee!

By this time, of course, no one was paying attention to my lecture, so there was nothing left but to make light of it:

“Enjoy!” I said, “and feel free to help yourself to more coffee in the back!”

Everyone laughed, and this fellow’s pleased look changed to one of embarrassment, as he seemed to come out of his reverie.

“You don’t understand,” he said, “I just wanted to see if this was a coffee mug. You see, I’ve never seen one before.”