Translation by Yehoshua Siskin
Omri Caspi invited me to be a guest on his new podcast. On my way over I did a google search in order to be reminded of all of his accomplishments in the NBA. But he wanted to talk about completely different things: the coronavirus, the media, America and Israel, and Judaism as well.
"I departed for the United States as an Israeli only, but I returned also as a Jew," he told me. When I asked for an explanation of this powerful statement, Caspi expressed ideas that are quite relevant to the approaching festival of Shavuot that celebrates the giving of the Torah:
"Outside of Israel, if you do not create an identity, it will not happen on its own. I lived in places like Sacramento, Cleveland, and Houston – without a large Jewish community. But at some point, I stopped and said to myself: 'Wait a minute, what is going on with me?'. I felt a sense of obligation. I began thinking that I represent something, but I know nothing about what I represent.
