Food Chain

I find Chol Hamoed to a big Nisayon in tolerance and Ahavas Yisroel.

However I must say that I like the idea of renting out big huge parks and circuses and having just frum people, an idea that has become popular these last few years.
Let's face it we are a unique cultural phenominon and while we might certainly appreciate our fun loving and leibidig disposition, not everyone does. I'll never forget at the Auto Show at the Javitz Center a few years ago (which foolishly usually ends up during Chol Hamoed) this sweet American Couple was actually interested in an SUV there and they opened the back seat, only to find a family of 6 crowded in the back with open silver foils all over eating lunch.

So, I'd spend half the day nervously whispering..stop it!..chillul hashem!!..and the other half apologizing to horrified scandinavians.

Now, I breathe alot easier.

However to pre-empt any negative feelings you might feel toward any segment of our community I've reposted something I posted last year after Chol Hamoed.

Print it out and read it every 20 minutes during your trip.


I’ve discovered that I’m part of a very disturbing food chain.

After another exhausting Chol Hamoed trip we were sitting and recounting details of our sojourn..
As usual there were disparaging remarks about Chassidim eating all over and being pushy etc..
Then during the meal on Yom Tov a conversation came up about how Chassidim cheat the government on taxes and they don’t work...etc..
I passionately hate these conversation and everyone knows it. I think that it's always wrong and unfair to stereotype.

I realized then that we’re all part of the insecurity food chain...

Whatever right wing Frum people say about Chassidim..
Modern Orthodox say about right wing Frum...
Whatever Modern Orthodox say about right wing Frum people
Non Orthodox say about all Orthodox
And whatever Non Orthodox say about Orthodox
Non-Jews say about Jews...

So next time you’re about to feel all superior by trampling on someone who is supposedly “superior than you”..
remember.
You’re just a small ring in the food chain and at this very moment some anti-semite is probably saying the same exact thing about you to his children.