Hasidic Men on 7th Ave

i walk out of the grand army plaza train station and there are two hasidic men standing there asking folks (not me of course) "are you jewish?". they both have these plants in their hands. ok, i start going for my wallet cause i'm thinking maybe they are begging for money but then stop myself. walk down one block to 8th ave and there is a little hasidic boy with a another man, asking (not me of course) "are you jewish?
i keep walking to 7th ave and find yet more guys asking (not me of course) "are you jewish?" so i finally stop and say... no, but what's this about? and they literally walked away from me.

Damn it! can't i leave the train station without being asked my religion. why don't they get jobs. shouldn't they be at work. where are the damn parents. stop bothering me, i'm just trying to get home. why are there so many of them on each corner. that is it, i'm calling the cops. they should be arrested. arggg. get a job! sound familiar.

any way.... anyone know what that's about?

i find these encounters very uncomfortable myself. as a jew, i don't feel like i can answer "are you jewish?" with a no, but i don't want to chit chat either. typically, they just want to say a holiday-appropriate prayer with you (i.e., on rosh hashanah, they'll blow the shofar; on sukkot, you'll wave a lulav and esrog; etc), but still, i don't take well to the tone of the whole thing.

Subject: Re: Hasidic Men on 7th Ave

lmboogie wrote: i walk out of the grand army plaza train station and there are two hasidic men standing there asking folks (not me of course) "are you jewish?". they both have these plants in their hands. ok, i start going for my wallet cause i'm thinking maybe they are begging for money but then stop myself. walk down one block to 8th ave and there is a little hasidic boy with a another man, asking (not me of course) "are you jewish?
i keep walking to 7th ave and find yet more guys asking (not me of course) "are you jewish?" so i finally stop and say... no, but what's this about? and they literally walked away from me.

Damn it! can't i leave the train station without being asked my religion. why don't they get jobs. shouldn't they be at work. where are the damn parents. stop bothering me, i'm just trying to get home. why are there so many of them on each corner. that is it, i'm calling the cops. they should be arrested. arggg. get a job! sound familiar.

any way.... anyone know what that's about?

OK - so jaded.

It is Sukkot - which is the Jewish celebration of autumn and harvest. this is the waving of the 4 species, which involves giving and shaking plants, assumably with other jews. It's a very joyous holiday.

To quote from Wikipaedia - The Four Species are waved as follows: The first three species are held in the right hand, while the etrog is held in the left hand. The user holds his or her hands apart while saying the special blessing, "Blessed are You, God our Lord, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to take the lulav". Then the user brings his or her hands together so that the etrog touches the lulav bundle, and points and gently shakes the Four Species three times in each of the four directions, as well as up and down. Symbolically, this ceremony is a prayer for adequate rainfall for all the vegetation of the earth in the coming year.

If no one asked you for money, why do you assume they were begging?

Mookie Wilson wrote: typically, they just want to say a holiday-appropriate prayer with you (i.e., on rosh hashanah, they'll blow the shofar; on sukkot, you'll wave a lulav and esrog; etc), but still, i don't take well to the tone of the whole thing.

ahhh, thanks, i was really curious. do they ask for a donation after the prayer? i think i saw one of the guys with a small box. i could see why someone wouldn't take well to this.

Subject: Re: Hasidic Men on 7th Ave

bklyngirl718 wrote:
OK - so jaded.
If no one asked you for money, why do you assume they were begging?

cuz i thought i saw them holding a little box with a hole on top.

i'm not sure what the "jaded" comment is about but i'm guessing you didn't get the joke.

I get a kick out of it when the girls ask me, with the blue/purple hair, facial piercing, and multiple tattoos. I wouldn't be a very good jewish woman with all that and showing my elbows and shoulders.

caseopele wrote: I get a kick out of it when the girls ask me, with the blue/purple hair, facial piercing, and multiple tattoos. I wouldn't be a very good jewish woman with all that and showing my elbows and shoulders.

i jesus, mary mother of god you're jewish, have tattoos and purple hair?OH MY GOD. i'm holding a press conference to let the world know jewish girls like you exist.

sorry, caeopele, these posts are all fucked up in my head and i'm trying to connect them.

i need to stay away from the naked paper.

Oh no, I'm not jewish. I just wonder why they would ask me considering my appearance. I'm actually Greek Orthodox, at least that's what I was baptized.

caseopele wrote: Oh no, I'm not jewish. I just wonder why they would ask me considering my appearance. I'm actually Greek Orthodox, at least that's what I was baptized.

knew it! there are no jewish girls with piercings, tatts and purple hair.

It can be annoying if your coming home exhausted but I try to have fun with it. When they ask me if I'm Jewish I answer them with
"only on alternating Fridays", "not until I get circumcised" or something silly.
Some of the younger ones look at me like Im crazy and the older ones just laugh and then I say "have a nice holiday" and keep on.

i have never been asked for a donation. for many observant jews, particularly some hasidic jews, it's a "mitzvah" (i.e., good deed) to encourage less observant jews to participate in jewish ritual. im fairly certain that's the only reward.

caseopele wrote: Oh no, I'm not jewish. I just wonder why they would ask me considering my appearance. I'm actually Greek Orthodox, at least that's what I was baptized.

I am jewish and have very large and noticable tattoos. Judaism isn't so bad - you are always welcome to come back to the faith.

Mookie Wilson wrote: i have never been asked for a donation. for many observant jews, particularly some hasidic jews, it's a "mitzvah" (i.e., good deed) to encourage less observant jews to participate in jewish ritual. im fairly certain that's the only reward.

Bingo! that's exactly what it is - it's a mitzvah. Every religion has their sects. I am fascinated by the catholics carrying the jesus around in the lucite box on easter. And for that you have to give money.

bklyngirl718 wrote: [quote=caseopele]Oh no, I'm not jewish. I just wonder why they would ask me considering my appearance. I'm actually Greek Orthodox, at least that's what I was baptized.

I am jewish and have very large and noticable tattoos. Judaism isn't so bad - you are always welcome to come back to the faith.

I never said Judaism is bad, just that by some people's standards I would make a bad one because of my appearance. And it would be difficult to go back to something that I was never a part of to begin with.

caseopele wrote: [quote=bklyngirl718][quote=caseopele]Oh no, I'm not jewish. I just wonder why they would ask me considering my appearance. I'm actually Greek Orthodox, at least that's what I was baptized.

I am jewish and have very large and noticable tattoos. Judaism isn't so bad - you are always welcome to come back to the faith.

I never said Judaism is bad, just that by some people's standards I would make a bad one because of my appearance. And it would be difficult to go back to something that I was never a part of to begin with.

Didn't mean you personally. I meant in general.

bklyngirl718 wrote: I am fascinated by the catholics carrying the jesus around in the lucite box on easter. And for that you have to give money.

You don't have to give money to watch or pray or whatever. The money is attached/donated for various reasons. Often when someone has a very special prayer they want said. It's seen as a type of penance or "good deed" for the church.

I think religious holidays are great. Especially when I get alternate side parking suspended. 8)

funny, they don't look druish

Subject: are you jewish?

well. it is most likely because it is the new year (rosh hashanah) and they will pray with you if you are jewish...this has happened to me many times. i can't remember exactly what the practice is but since i'm jewish, i just let them do they thang.

Subject: Re: Hasidic Men on 7th Ave

lmboogie wrote: Damn it! can't i leave the train station without being asked my religion. why don't they get jobs. shouldn't they be at work. where are the damn parents. stop bothering me, i'm just trying to get home. why are there so many of them on each corner. that is it, i'm calling the cops. they should be arrested. arggg. get a job! sound familiar.

let me clarify before i get accused of being anti-semtic.

there are folks on this board who are constantly bitching about people begging in the neighborhood. some folks even wrote they were going to call the cops next time they saw those basketball kids asking for money. i was merely pointing out how ridiculous those types of comments are by applying it to the hasidic men. i should have known folks woudn't get the irony since those same people wouldn't have a problem with the hasidic men but seem to have a problem with the other people in the street asking for "donations"

my comments on how surprised i am at a jewish girl with tatts was to point out how ignorant that statement sounds. i was referencing the latest o'reilly commnets on black folks.

i hope my comments made you cringe just a little bit. that's how i feel everytime i hear a people say dumb shit about black and hispanic folks.

bklyngirl718 wrote: I am jewish and have very large and noticable tattoos. Judaism isn't so bad - you are always welcome to come back to the faith.

don't assume we are all christian.

Subject: Re: Hasidic Men on 7th Ave

lmboogie wrote: there are folks on this board who are constantly bitching about people begging in the neighborhood. some folks even wrote they were going to call the cops next time they saw those basketball kids asking for money. i was merely pointing out how ridiculous those types of comments are by applying it to the hasidic men. i should have known folks woudn't get the irony since those same people wouldn't have a problem with the hasidic men but seem to have a problem with the other people in the street asking for "donations".

actually, I find it quite annoying when anyone approaches me on the street. I am no less annoyed by the Hasidim. Yes, i'm jewish - no i don't want to discuss it with them. When they ask if i'm jewish, I usually just respond by saying "are you?"

I don't think anyone really finds your comments antisemitic unless they're not paying attention. Still, you'd have to admit that comparing an annual ritual in which folks ask to pray on your behalf with a year round one in which kids ask for money under false pretenses is an imperfect analogy.

Subject: Re: Hasidic Men on 7th Ave

joncane wrote: Still, you'd have to admit that comparing an annual ritual in which folks ask to pray on your behalf with a year round one in which kids ask for money under false pretenses is an imperfect analogy.

agreed, imperfect analogy.

if the black kids instead asked me to pray with them and the hasidic men allowed me to pray with them. then maybe i'd be getting closer to a perfect analogy.

Subject: Re: Hasidic Men on 7th Ave

joncane wrote: actually, I find it quite annoying when anyone approaches me on the street.

Aggreed.
And I also agree that I would not say that the OP's comments are antisemitic, maybe just a little close minded.

...comparing an annual ritual in which folks ask to pray on your behalf with a year round one in which kids ask for money under false pretenses is an imperfect analogy

Totally agreed. The hasidic Jews DO have jobs.

i keep walking to 7th ave and find yet more guys asking (not me of course) "are you jewish?" so i finally stop and say... nowhat's this about

Damn it! can't i leave the train station without being asked my religion.

stop bothering me, i'm just trying to get home.

I thought they were NOT asking you. Still, sorry they walked away when you asked, that was rude. I find many Orthodox Jews are often rude to non-Jews. Even to "bad" jews (ie non orthodox, ie Kosherdave). And that's just sad. I mean, that's not setting a very good example for others!
Still, I find it funny when they spot me, flock over and ask if I'm Jewish, but ignore the others I'm with. I don't look that Jewish do I?! Besides, I have a shaved head!

I also want to add that I'm not against the "black kids" asking for money for candy. I personally don't like be bothered, but at least they're trying to make some money in a (questionably?) honest manner.
I DON'T like it when I walk by, get asked for money, say no, get glared at, walk by later, get approached again, say no, get glared at, walk by later, same thing... over and over again. It's very uncomfortable and rude.

Subject: Oy vey!

They are NOT asking for money! It is actually forbidden for them to do any commerce on these high holidays. This is a time of celebration, and they are their to do their ritual observation.
Do I "correct" the old lady when she says "Bless you," after I give her a dollar? No. That's her religion. Her ritual. I'll take blessings when I can.
To compare them to teenagers trying to rip you off is so typical of this "anyone is better than a white guy" board.
It is a mitvah for them.
For you? A culturally edifying experience that one can only find in diverse places like brooklyn.
Diversity means more than just black people folks.
Flame away.
:evil:

Subject: Re: Hasidic Men on 7th Ave

lmboogie wrote:
if the black kids instead asked me to pray with them and the hasidic men allowed me to pray with them. then maybe i'd be getting closer to a perfect analogy.

Wow. I have to seriously consider moving. I just don't know what to say.

Subject: Re: Oy vey!

The Chipster wrote: They are NOT asking for money! It is actually forbidden for them to do any commerce on these high holidays. This is a time of celebration, and they are their to do their ritual observation.
Do I "correct" the old lady when she says "Bless you," after I give her a dollar? No. That's her religion. Her ritual. I'll take blessings when I can.
To compare them to teenagers trying to rip you off is so typical of this "anyone is better than a white guy" board.
It is a mitvah for them.
For you? A culturally edifying experience that one can only find in diverse places like brooklyn.
Diversity means more than just black people folks.
Flame away.
:evil:

finally, a sane voice in PS. thank you thank you thank you

i just now got my first ever hasidic house call! knock at the door (my apartment door; he was already in the building), guy in a black hat holding a branch, visible tzitzit: "excuse me are you jewish?"

i always regret having to say no.

sweet tea wrote:
i always regret having to say no.

Me too.

Subject: Re: Oy vey!

The Chipster wrote: I'll take blessings when I can.

me too! i was pissed he walked after learning what they were really doing.

Subject: Re: Hasidic Men on 7th Ave

bklyngirl718 wrote: [quote=lmboogie]
if the black kids instead asked me to pray with them and the hasidic men allowed me to pray with them. then maybe i'd be getting closer to a perfect analogy.

Wow. I have to seriously consider moving. I just don't know what to say.

what about my comment offended you?