I
AM A PROUD M.O.T. MEMBER OF THE TRIBE
The
first time I heard the expression MOT, was from a doctor teacher, Jack
Schneider when I was beginning my medical studies. Are you a MOT? He asked, and
explained to me that it was a way of acknowledging other members of the Jewish
people. After all Jews are a tribal people, from the historic perspective and
many of the tribal mannerisms and characteristics and especially rituals
survive to this day
In
Cuba, I have trouble explaining to a people who had transitioned from
Catholicism to Communism and both as ritualistic and rigid behavioral patterns
and demanding obedience to a God or to an Ideology. To say that I am Jewish but
not affiliated to any group or institution and that Bible means less than the
commentaries on the bible and that I am not messianic but a realist who
believes in the Paradise right here and now, of course avoid Hell here as much
as possible, these arguments do not make any sense to Cubans.
But
in the back of my mind, I want to be an example of being a good human being and
that incidentally people could say: that human being is a Jew. I am one of the diverse
Jews of this world but I have taken pride in my identity and also carried the
burden of this responsibility of being a good ambassador for my people with
great pleasure.
My
wanderings around the world had taken me to various Islamic countries and some
totalitarian countries both of which interested me in my presenting a good face
of my people. In Malaysia, the usual question asked is, why do your people win
so many Nobel Prizes. I tell them humbly, we are not smarter than the other
people but we are taught to be more curious about the world and the medical and
scientific contributions could considered as a part of social obligation
inherent in us to help others, the Mitzvah.
Almost
all countries in the East confuse Israel and the Jews, without realizing that
the Jews are not a large group of people and that half the Jewish population of
the world live outside Israel.
Iranians
have been fed a foul propaganda by their government against Israel and by Jews
by default. While they proclaim that Jews are among the four minorities with
privilege in Iran, Infidels but somewhat better, they have no judicial,
educational or position rights which can be overruled by Mullahs and in the
name of Islam. I have a long standing interest in Iran and Iranian people and
reach out whenever possible.
The
greatest compliments arrive like this.
From
Iran
Since
we have been friends, I like the Jewish people much more.
Or
We
know that Israeli people are nice people, I wish I could go there and visit and
study.
I
always thank them humbly and say: we are the best friends you could have in the
Middle East, we are natural friends
And
say to my Iranian friends:
We
love you, Iranian people
And
one day we will be together and work together and contribute equally to help
the people of the world, in science and technology and knowledge and
literature, our Mitzvahs will be one.
I
wish to be a good MOT.. thank you Dr Jack Schneider for explaining to me when I
was still a student at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida, USA.
