The view from the bridge

Randa is an Israeli Druze woman who is both an unusual guardian of religious tradition in her community and a groundbreaking agent of social change. The Druze believe in reincarnation, and Randa is among the few who remembers her previous incarnation. She believes that this memory allowed her to begin this life with unusual maturity, setting and realizing goals that Druze women have not normally aspired to or achieved. Not religious in the traditional sense, and thus not privy to the secrets of Druze religion, she has nonetheless been sought out and enlisted by the sheiks who are the religious leaders of her community to promote Druze tradition amongst the young and to be the face of change in public venues. The sheiks seem to have understood that Randa offers a unique bridge between tradition and change. This article will explore Randa's personal narrative and relate her story to the complex dynamics between religion, tradition and social change.