I tend to wear black – black skirt, black top – with my hair long and unbound. So I unwittingly looked like a member of one of the more Orthodox sects, rather than a Shicksa.

Fortunately my Israeli minders clued me in on some of the local customs. It was an interesting experience, knowing almost nothing about the weird and wonderful ways of Ultra-Orthodox Jews, yet constantly being mistaken for one – until I opened my mouth, and spoke in Australian-accented English.

Then it turned out that as my mother’s mother’s mother was Jewish, technically I’m a Red Sea Pedestrian too as far as they’re concerned. “Welcome to the tribe” as one said.

“Funny, you do look Jewish”. 😀