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A few months ago, I was in Los Angeles visiting the office of a friend of mine who owns a successful production company. I walked in and his assistant told me to wait for a few minutes because he was finishing an important call. So I sat down quietly in the waiting room.

About 30 seconds later, one of the most famous young pop singers in the world walked into the office. He was also told to sit down and wait, and he sat directly across from me.

And then something strange happened: He just stared at me.

Didn’t say a word. Just stared.

So naturally… I stared right back.

After about a minute, I finally smiled at him. He smiled back. Still no words exchanged, which for me is very unusual (I’m a tough Brooklyn boy and I don’t like losing staring contests).

This silent showdown probably went on for another minute before I got called into my meeting and walked away.

Later that night, I googled him and discovered that he’s Jewish and has spoken publicly about how much Jewish summer camp shaped him and how important Judaism was in making him who he is today.

But why the staring contest?

Did seeing a yarmulke-wearing Jew sitting in the middle of a Hollywood production studio suddenly make him think about his own Judaism?

Did it bring back memories? Jewish camp? His childhood? His family? A different version of himself?

I honestly have no idea. But I do feel that sometimes when people see me, it makes them think about their own Judaism. Judaism has a way of staying somewhere deep inside us no matter where life takes us. Sometimes all it takes is another Jew to remind us of who we are.

Every Jew I meet carries their own unique Jewish story. Sometimes it’s loud and active, other times it’s buried deep beneath success, ambition, distance, or time. But it’s still there, the Jewish soul continues to burn. Our tradition teaches that the Jewish soul is eternal.

Maybe all it takes is one unexpected moment to feel it again, one random encounter, one person sitting across from you in silence. One reminder of an identity buried underneath it all.

In many ways, that’s what we try to do at the Jewish Grad Organization (JGO) every single day. Jewish grad students are building careers, chasing success, and trying to figure out who they are and where they belong in the world. Sometimes they just need another Jew to remind them of their Judaism, their community, and the spark that already exists inside them.

And if I reminded this pop star of his Jewishness for even one moment?

I’m so happy I did.

Dave

P.S. Can you guess who the celebrity was? Email me at RabbiSorani@gmail.com!