A visit to Bnai Brak:  I’m still in shock over going anywhere outside of my neighborhood.  Perhaps that was part of my total surprise driving through the streets of Bnai Brak, the extreme religious neighborhood of Tel Aviv.  Its narrow streets are crowded with men in black kapotes amd fur hats and young girls pushing carriages, all of whom are certain that their purpose in this life is to prepare for the next one by studying torah (if male) or practicing modesty (if female).  This makes the world in which they live now pretty shabby and ugly.  

“I feel more comfortable in Harlem,” I whispered to my friend, as a woman passing by looked askance at me – even though i was wearing a long longsleeved dress and stockings.  She knew I was faking.  And my friend had jewelry and make-up to make things even worse.