My "Jewish" dream

Last month I had a dream. A young Jewish man who was beyond the usual age for a particular music study scholarship was presenting an opera he'd composed, with musical and dramatical themes deeply rooted in his experiences of being Jewish. The primary instrument was the pipe organ (?? - dreams!). The audience loved it, and rewarded the composer with a lengthy and raucous ovation. While the applause was still ringing, a member of the school of study to which the young man aspired approached him to offer his congratulations. The young man couldn't help but ask if it might serve as a successful audition for his admission. The teacher responded in the negative, observing that the environment actually would serve to ruin the young man's pure insight. He told the young man that he was sure that he could succeed in their program, but that he felt it would destroy the best part of him. "You may have a positive effect on New York," he said, "but New York will have a far more negative effect on you."

I'm paraphrasing, because I've let too much time pass since the dream.

When I woke up, I thought how utterly ridiculous it was for a Jewish man to have misgivings concerning New York. There are thriving Jewish communities in New York.

I came to realize that my dream might be a metaphor for spiritual life.

There are many areas in which a spiritual person can have a positive effect. But in immersing himself in them, he may well lose more than he contributes.

I'm not a spiritual separatist. However, there are many places in which I should not dwell.