A very strange experience
The other night, I ran into a couple of guys lighting the Menorah at CocoWalk. They were stopping every person who walked by asking them, "Are you Jewish?" Very strange. I asked them, what next, "Are you Muslim?" Perhaps they would side with Donald Trump on this subject. They did!
They were in favor of banning all Muslims from entering the country, but get this, one of the guys was not even a US citizen, he was from England and down in the Grove from Boca Raton to light the Menorah.
He said if he was a US citizen, he would vote for Trump and his Muslim policies. This coming from a Jewish guy who clearly has no knowledge of World War II and Hitler. Maybe someone should tell him the story of the "St. Louis" ship in 1939.
Should this guy be lighting the Menorah?
I mean the whole conversation was pleasant and they were nice and polite, but so were the bombers in San Bernardino. "Oh, he was such a sweet and quite neighbor," as he made bombs in the garage.
I found the whole conversation strange and with them asking total strangers walking by, "Are you Jewish?" it didn't sit right, I would assume everyone is inclusive and that anyone could light the Menorah.
They were in favor of banning all Muslims from entering the country, but get this, one of the guys was not even a US citizen, he was from England and down in the Grove from Boca Raton to light the Menorah.
He said if he was a US citizen, he would vote for Trump and his Muslim policies. This coming from a Jewish guy who clearly has no knowledge of World War II and Hitler. Maybe someone should tell him the story of the "St. Louis" ship in 1939.
Should this guy be lighting the Menorah?
I mean the whole conversation was pleasant and they were nice and polite, but so were the bombers in San Bernardino. "Oh, he was such a sweet and quite neighbor," as he made bombs in the garage.
I found the whole conversation strange and with them asking total strangers walking by, "Are you Jewish?" it didn't sit right, I would assume everyone is inclusive and that anyone could light the Menorah.
posted by Tom Falco at 5:00 AM
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16 Comments:
Yeah, it's a bit unsettling and a lot of Jews don't like the chabad folks (I'm assuming these guys were associated) who try to 'recruit' only Jews to become their brand of Judaism. They do the same on Lincoln Rd.
That's a tough one. I sincerely feel blessed having been born in the United States as I have known nothing but freedom. I was given the political freedom to reach for any goal and at 73, I'm still free. I'm not against any individual, no matter their race or creed and these two guys, in my opinion can light the Menorah and ask "are you Jewish" and perhaps pay a consequence in light of world events. I would be against any person raising any flag above the U.S. flag. It does seem a strange going on, but mostly harmless. Jobie Steppe
This election cycle with its bizarre political tone while we are oscillating between Fascism and a socialist dictatorship there will be many more instigators to divide us and weaken us. In hope that sanity and wisdom will win over extremism.
It's not strange at all. To a certain point, its a tradition of calling all people brought up in the Jewish faith to celebrate. It's a nice tradition especially in these day of hyper-polarized politics.
While strange, I am pretty sure he knew of Hitler. Do not put something in somebody's mouth you have no idea what the gentleman's intentions were It is not right. Comparing this to that is wrong........... Kind of disappointed with your comments.
These fonts are so small I can barely write.........
Or perhaps it was something as inocuous as looking for someone to recite the prayer in Hebrew.
The same thing happened in Aventura Mall, where I've been approached multiple times asking if I'm a Jew. I tell them I'm a Capricorn.
Religion is a very personal issue, once anyone starts lumping up individuals because of where or to whom they were born there is a problem. Benneta Betbadal one of the victims of San Bernardino shooting had ran away persecution in the middle east where she was born, incidentally Dr. Michael Neeki the emergency physician on the responding SWAT team was also a refugee from the middle east, he had met Betbadel before yet had to pass her up to aid others since she had no chance of survival. Human beings can live in peace. Hope and light will over power darkness as symbolized by the guys lighting the Menorah.
While walking in Wynwood I was once asked if I was Jewish. I said half Jewish and he cleverly responded with... "vertical or horizontal" and I had to chuckle.
Jews like those guys make me embarrassed to say I too am a Jew. I'm actually currently living in Israel (until March 2016) & everyone I talk to asks me if Americans are really stupid enough to vote for Trump, and if Americans don't see the parallels between the Jews of Europe & the Muslims of today. Thankfully not all of us are xenophobic or Islamophobic or bigots.
Politics aside, usually they ask because they want people to join in prayer.
I have been approached a number of times. If answer is that you are Jewish , they offer a menorah and candles so you can light the candles. It is true they want Jews to "return to the fold". It's true it is not very inclusive, but it's not ominous. As for the rest of the conversation,each person has their own opinion....
Maybe you should have asked them why they were asking. They do that so you can join them in prayer!
Why is someone from Boca lighting our menorah in Coconut Grove?
They ask if one is Jewish to invite them to join the service as it is a mitzvah for a Jew to light the Menorah. Regarding the politics clearly dumb comment and does not represent chabad opinion.
They ask if people are Jewish as a matter of encouraging another Jew to partake in the mitzvah of lighting the menorah. It isn't a discriminatory matter and has nothing to do with Muslims. Their mission, and the main idea of Hanukkah, is to spread light into the world.
Their misguided political views and support for trump have nothing to do with why they ask people if they are Jewish (though it's easy to see how one might draw that connection).
These guys clearly mean well in their mission to spread light and love on Hanukkah. It's a shame they are so politically narrow minded.
As for Chabad, hey are a fantastic organization that spreads love all around the world, especially here in coconut grove!! Politics is a touchy subject and many people from many different religions are divided in this country. It's sad how popular Trump has become, but let's try not to get sucked into the status quo and start judging an entire religion (or sect) on the political opinions of a couple misguided teenagers.
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