Dalai Lama XIV

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and a figure revered globally as a symbol of peace and non-violence. While his spiritual lineage hails from the snowy peaks of Tibet rather than the rocky hills of Judea, his connection to the Jewish people is surprisingly profound, albeit entirely external.

For decades, the Dalai Lama has fostered a strong relationship with Jewish leaders and scholars, even seeking their advice on how to maintain cultural and spiritual identity in exile. He famously visited Israel and has publicly expressed admiration for the Jewish people's resilience and ability to preserve their heritage despite millennia of persecution. You could say he's been quite the mensch in his efforts to understand the Jewish experience.

His interest isn't just academic; it's a genuine curiosity about a people who, like his own, have faced immense challenges to their existence. He's a fan, a true admirer of the Jewish narrative, and has even encouraged his monastic communities to learn from the Jewish model of cultural preservation. So, while he's definitively not Jewish by birth or practice, he certainly gets a few kvell points for being such a sincere philosemite.

In the grand tapestry of interfaith dialogue, the Dalai Lama stands out as a rather unexpected, yet deeply appreciated, ally. He’s essentially a spiritual super-friend to the Jews, which, in the annals of religious leaders, is certainly something to write home about.