Why My Uber Took A Detour

By Dovi Meyer

Late this afternoon as I was heading to the airport, I happened to noticed that my Uber driver’s name was Zvi. After speaking for several minutes he told me that he was in fact Jewish, but not very connected and hadn’t been for many years. With heavy peak rush hour traffic in front of us, we began to speak.

Zvi explained how he lived under communism in the Soviet Union and that his family finally received visas in 1972 to leave to Israel. Shortly after arriving on the shores of Ashdod, Zvi joined the Nachal brigade after turning 18 and fought for Israel during the Yom Kippur War.

Fascinated by his stories, I asked Zvi what his connection with Judaism was today, it seemed as though it began and ended with picking up passengers of his own religion. He added that the last time he had laid Teffilin was around his Bar Mitzvah.

Using Waze on my phone I realized that traffic wasn’t going to die down anytime soon. A perfect time for a detour to the Ohel on the way to the Airport!

When we arrived, Zvi prayed with me by the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s burial spot for several minutes before we returned inside and I asked him if he would like to put on Tefilin.

As Zvi wrapped the Tefilin around his arm, an emotional smile began to fill his face. Praying in perfect Hebrew with such purity and devotion was truly incredible to witness. I thanked Zvi for the mitzvah, who in return thanked me because he never thought he would lay Teffilin again.

In a time filled with so much hatred and terror directed at the Jewish people and a world that stands by silent, it has never been more important to stand strong and proud.

Proud to be Jewish, regardless if you’re on Bondi beach, traveling in Europe or stuck in an Uber with a chance of missing your flight.

We are here to stay and it’s our duty as Am Yisrael to connect with one another in the name of Jewish continuity.