Thursday, December 23, 2010

David Sokal, Interview #110

Name:  David Sokal     
 
Where you live:  Seattle, Washington, USA 
 
What you do as a vocation or avocation?  Sell Palestinian Olive Oil (see www.peaceoil.net)
 
Your two favorite books: One of the most important books I read in my youth was Last of the Just about the holocaust.   
 
Your two favorite songs:  I still know all the lyrics to Neil Young's "After the Goldrush" by heart, so I guess I must like that one a lot. 
 
Why you are interested in spirituality?  I'm not really. I find the term is over-used and abused. What I'm interested in is life and death. I do belong to a Jewish Renewal Congregation which many might label as "spiritual". My wife and a good friend of mine refer to my congregation (Eitz Or -- Tree of Light) as being too "woo woo" for them. I can certainly understand their sentiment, but I've been involved for so many years that it has become my home, "woo woo" or not. We also have a wonderful rabbi, unique and warm membership, and we sing and pray from the heart. See www.eitzor.org 
 
Your favorite quote:  "Must be de ja vu all over again." (Yogi Berra - NY Yankees) I also like, "I don't a believe in a Sanity Clause" (Chico Marx in the Marx Brothers film, Horse Feathers). 
 
Your favorite web sites:  I use Google Checkout and Ad Words a lot. Part of my effort to sell Palestinian Olive Oil. 
 
Your hero? Frank Robinson, Baltimore Orioles in the 60s. Also, I've always admired Abraham Lincoln since reading about him as a kid. I think Obama is doing a pretty good job. I guess I'm not much into heros. There are literally millions of people living and dead that I can find admirable qualities in. 
 
A spiritual lesson you hope to learn?  To accept death. 
 
A place in the world where you feel spiritually "connected?"  See Congregation Eitz Or above.