Chai on Life

Journeying to Europe for a summer getaway, I regretfully left my chai chain at home.

Chai is a symbol to explore, to love, to laugh, and to live life to the fullest.

But fear of anti-semitism got in the way.

As I boarded the plane, a young couple was ahead of me.

The woman had a tattoo prominently on the back of her neck with the words “l'chaim” or “to life” in Hebrew.

Did I make a mistake leaving my chai at home?

It had been with me for two decades.

Then, in a small Italian village, I noticed the sewers were stamped with the Hebrew letter “Hey.

According to mystics, “Hey” means “behold,” “look”, or “revelation”.

Was my chai chain following me?

This was a revelation.

Later, at the pool, my neck felt naked.

I wasn’t my true self.

I saw others with tattoos and crosses around their neck.

Were they hiding anything?

Why was I?

That’s when I remembered what Moses said to the Israelites as they were ready to return to the Promised Land, “I have placed before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; and you shall choose life.”

I chose life and enjoyed the rest of the day.

The chai traveled within me.