Interview with a different person

In class, the students were asked to interview a person who was completely different than them. Although I had a difficult time finding such a person, Adina Feldman made my worries disappear.

Adina Feldman is a 28 year old, special education teacher for four year olds. She went to Touro College and lives with her parents in Queens, New York. However, although it may not seem as if we are different, we live entirely different lives. Adina Feldman is a Jewish, orthodox, religious woman. She decided to become religious during her senior year in high school and has worn skirts and long sleeves ever since. “One of my teachers inspired me to become religious, she told me about being ‘shomer’ and to dress modestly.”
Feldman does not touch men unless it is for professional reasons, such as shaking their hand during an interview. She states, “I feel that a guy would respect a girl more if they got to know the girl and not deal with the psychical aspect of the relationship.” She meets men through her friends and they then go on dates. After the date, both then man and woman tell the mutual friend what they thought of the other person and by that, they decide whether or not to go out again. She mentioned that she is waiting until she is married because her first kiss and her first time is something she wants to remember forever. Judaism does not allow for it to happen before marriage.
Additionally, she keeps the Sabbath in which she relaxes, meets friends, reads, prays and sleeps. She said, “I am completely thankful I have Shabbos.”
Moreover, after she eats meat, she waits six hours to eat dairy and cannot eat any non kosher foods. She has two sinks in her house, one for meat and one for dairy and different silverware as well. After she eats, she thanks God for the food she ate.
Adina Feldman stated,” I am happy with the way I am, if anything, I would like to become more religious.” She hopes to get married and have kids whom she will raise to be religious as well.

Important Questions:

- How long have you been religious?
- States she has been religious since her senior year in high school.

-What inspired you to be religious?
-“One of my teachers inspired me to become religious. She told me about being shomer and to dress modestly.”

-Why don’t you touch men?
- She mentioned that she feels that the relationship means more.
“I feel that a guy would respect a girl more if they got to know the girl and not deal with the physical aspect of the relationship.”

- Why do you only wear skirts and long sleeves?
- She said it was because she does not want men to judge her based on her looks.

- Do you feel as if you are being held back from getting things done on Shabbat?
- She said no. “I am completely thankful I have Shabbos.”

- Why are you waiting until you are married to kiss a man and touch one?
- She mentioned that the Jewish religion says you have to save yourself for marriage and that way, it makes everything all the more special because it is something she wants to remember forever.

- Do you feel as if being so religious has held you back from doing something you dreamed of you entire life?
- “I am happy with the way I am, if anything I would like to become more religious.”
She said she is upset with herself for not being religious her whole life but now that she is, she would not change it.