Yesterday was our last day of tabling on campus for the fall kickoff, and it was worth every minute for one really unique experience: I actually saw a Jewish open-air preacher on White Plaza. Unexpected, given that Jewish adherents are rarely noted for their evangelistic fervor. He had a bullhorn and everything.
It was a bit hard to make out what he was saying, given that concurrently:
- about 160 students and workers were holding a rather loud protest rally. “What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!”
- a hip-hop group was blaring tunes from their turntable set up about 15 feet behind the aforementioned preacher.
- two acapella groups were also projecting music (although less thumpily than the hip-hoppers).
Still, it was interesting to speculate about the content of his message. I do know that at one point a dozen Jewish students were blowing kazoos while Rabbi Mychal Copeland blew a full-on shofar. I also was able to hear the occassional Hebrew phrase and a few English words like “inner brokenness.”
All in all, a most surprising development.