June 18, 2010
Mivtzoim Musings
On mivtzoim I go to Uffizi, a Jewish owned coffee shop. Though not especially a kosher place, it nonetheless attracts many Jews, and needless to say has Jewish workers. Today, upon entering, my partner and I met two Jews of the old school; Yiddish speakers.
One of them says to me: "What are you doing here? This is not a kosher place!" To which I explained that we are only going in to leave some pamphlets for the two workers. He wasn't satisfied: "People like you should not be seen in a place like this!", he says to me.
Now, since he was knowledgeable enough to ask me such a question, he obviously knows I wouldn't eat in such a place. Rather, he was asking me what I thought about other peoples' impressions of our being there, concerning which he raised a valid point. Can my well-meant actions be (in this case) taken by others in a negative way?
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I've spoken to Rabbanim about this. If there is a side entrance, it's of course better if you can help it, to not be seen entering.
ReplyDeleteBUT, it's still important to go in if you know there are Yidden inside.
In this case, we use the side entrance, but we are still visible to bystanders. I heard (afterward) in the name of the Rosh (L.A.) that you're allowed to enter such an establishment.
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