Introduction

A. A rav. Serious beard, large yarmulke or hat, never seen without a tie, only paper in his mailbox is this chareidi weekly, never regretted he didn't fool around in adolescence, never been drunk in his life, never done drugs or smoked a cigarette. Orthodox not just by habit, but out of conviction. Never misses zman tefilo. Attaches importance to conserving traditions and minhogim. Thinks you should cover more dapim. Other rabbis call him for personal advice. Checks up with others before deciding halocho. Strives to be an example for his pupils in Hebrew class as well as for grown-ups. Has a wide notion of what he regards to be pornography. Thinks even Orthodox Jews in the US and in Israel are too much influenced by goyim. Physical exercise may be allowed, even commanded for health reasons, but sports is goyim nachas. The rebbetzin warm, a great cook, urging guests to eat already, supportive, hospitable. He hasn't a driver's licence, but she has. No interest in women's prayer groups and the like. Covers her hair, but not with a shaitl, about which they have halachic reservations. You get the picture.

B. University student for 15 years, still "writing his thesis". Tired and sapless all day and all night. Tried all the docs in town. During the night, no sweating or restlessness, he simply doesn't sleep for hours. Occasionally plays the piano at 3 a. m., sometimes unbearable. People say they never heard anyone play Bach better. Agrees, but doesn't care. Plays best alone. About once a week migraine, lies in bed, black scarf on his eyes, tries not to move. Diabetic - the kind with the syringes. Freezing under the shower so he can't breathe, regardless of the season. Feels the poetry in language. Smokes thick-smoke tobacco with Syrian Latakia in small clay pipes. Phone-shy. Developed a pronounced leaning to absinth once. Vaulting horses and the like in PE really frightened him. Reads books to his beloved until she falls asleep, snuggled against a cat. They often feel alone in company of others. She once went to Medical School, studied Social Sciences, History, but never finished any. Only seldom can she find the power to take up painting again. You get the picture.

C. An information junkie, who reads a large variety of newspapers and blogs on the net and gets hundreds of messages, feeds etc. every day to his computer. Blasted the official Mensa IQ test ("no serious differentiation can be made above this range"). Speaks half a dozen languages at least, and reads a multiple of this. Gave well attended university lectures. People ring him up with problems and get a formatted answer while still talking on the phone. Not a hacker, but the guy you call to fix your computer or install a network. Academically respected by people well above his age. Gets orders from professionals as a consultant in spiny matters. Drinks all kinds of coffee, in particular espresso. Stretto. His wife is a highly successful and effective VP of a small multinational company, who, next to her work, is about to finish an élite postgrad MBA [update: big company, MBA finished]. Both quite into bop and similar jazz. Like to play billiard. Have a treadmill in their bedroom. They wholeheartedly dislike romanticism, and attribute many of the world's problems to it. In politics liberal, left of centre: anti capital punishment, pro social security, legalising grass is worth discussing, seperation of religion and state, against discriminating Arabs in Israel etc. You get the picture.

If you still think I'm talking about three pairs, or even compartmentalized personalities, you didn't get the picture, of course.

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