Jeanie and Lily were twin sisters and best friends. They shared a room, clothing, friends and just about everything else. They went to the same school (of course) and were often in the same class (although some teachers had a hard time telling them apart). As far as their personalities were concerned, both Jeanie and Lily were easygoing and pretty much followed the rules. They both took being Jewish seriously, davened daily, went to shul on Shabbat, said brachot, and conducted themselves with excellent middot.
Overall, Jeanie and Lily both seemed happy with their lives. This is why it was such a surprise when Lily made her college decision. While Jeanie decided to stay close to home to remain in a Jewish environment, Lily chose to head to Colorado State University for their highly regarded veterinary program (one difference between the sisters was that Lily loved animals, but Jeanie crossed the street when a dog came down the block).
Lily’s parents were surprised at Lily’s choice, not because they didn’t know Lily wanted to be a veterinarian, but because they felt she’d want to be in a more Jewish environment. Lily explained that of course she was thankful for her upbringing. However, she wanted to meet different types of people and didn’t feel she could do that living close to home. Lily also felt that living in a Torah-observant community held her back from being able to express herself. So with that, Lily went off to Colorado to study veterinary medicine.
While away at school, Lily did not practice Judaism the same way she had beforehand. She still kept Shabbat and kosher, but did not daven or learn Torah regularly. She spent time with a new group of friends, only one of whom was Jewish. Lily stayed in touch with her sister, and they spoke at least once a day. Jeanie was studying biology and hoped to be a physical therapist one day, helping people recover from serious injuries. Lily would return home on occasion during breaks from school, but she didn’t come home for any chagim.
After a few years, Lily decided that she wanted to have a Shabbat like she used to have back home. So Lily asked a few people she knew for connections they may have near school. Eventually, Lily ended up staying at a family in Denver, Colorado, who davened at a small Orthodox shul that was 2-mile walk from their home. Lily enjoyed her Friday night meal, including singing zemirot and discussing the parsha. The next day Lily went to shul and was amazed at all the different types of Jews there. Before Musaf, the rabbi got up to speak and said the following:
“After the flood, we learn about the rainbow from Hashem and about the Migdal Bavel. Although we understand each one on its own, I think there is a deeper connection between the two. The reason Hashem stopped the building of the Tower is because the builders were trying to force everyone to be the same. As the Torah tells us, they all spoke the same language and had one thing in mind. They were trying to build one building for everyone to live around in order to survive as a society in harmony. However, they were mistaken. Hashem does desire diversity and difference. Hashem does not want us all to be the same. He wants us to share a set of values but to have different ways of expressing ourselves. This is what the rainbow represents: a diverse group of colors living together but staying different.”
Hearing this, Lily was amazed! She had no idea that being herself and being Jewish could work together! Feeling inspired, Lily returned to this shul for Shabbat at least twice a week and spent time with some of the most amazing Orthodox Jews! An acrobat! An astronaut! A movie producer! All who took being Jewish seriously, davened and learned Torah regularly, went to shul on Shabbat, said brachot, and conducted themselves with excellent middot. Lily realized that she could express herself as an individual all while keeping to the type of life in which she grew up. Finally, one Motzei Shabbat, Lily called her sister.
“Jeanie? I’m ready to come home.”
Lily and Jeanie are still twin sisters and best friends, but now they are also business partners. They own a therapy practice called “Rainbow Therapy,” which has been wildly successful. Jeanie (who has gotten over her fear of animals) treats human patients with serious injuries and Lily does the same for animals. Their work is based on the belief that humans and animals recovering in the same place has a healing effect that goes beyond simple therapy (kind of like what took place in a certain ark). The wide range of patients, human and animal, that come through their offices have made Rainbow Therapy a place for following through with what Hashem wants for His world. Their motto is “Rainbow Therapy: Heal Differently, Together.” A beautiful message for Parshat Noach.
Yair Daar is an assistant principal and the resident parsha storyteller at Yeshivat He’Atid. He can be reached at: [email protected].
