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Cultural faux-pas, and question of the day:
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Last night I was at a party, and was introduced to a gentleman with a beard and cool hat. Typically when I'm introduced to someone, I hug them, and brother, when a economy-size woman hugs you, you know it. I could sense some unease though, and just offered to shake hands. The lovely woman who was introducing us explained that he was an Orthodox Jew, and Orthodox Jewish men cannot touch a woman with whom they are not married. Whups.
Did not know that, and it's nifty to learn, and glad I learned it before I violated a cultural more of his. My question to My Dear Readers is this: Are there any similar cultural differences you've run into socially? What are they and how do you deal with it?
Last night I was at a party, and was introduced to a gentleman with a beard and cool hat. Typically when I'm introduced to someone, I hug them, and brother, when a economy-size woman hugs you, you know it. I could sense some unease though, and just offered to shake hands. The lovely woman who was introducing us explained that he was an Orthodox Jew, and Orthodox Jewish men cannot touch a woman with whom they are not married. Whups.
Did not know that, and it's nifty to learn, and glad I learned it before I violated a cultural more of his. My question to My Dear Readers is this: Are there any similar cultural differences you've run into socially? What are they and how do you deal with it?
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negiah is related to niddah which has to do with family purity laws based on a woman's "cleanliness" and "uncleanliness" during menstruation and after childbirth.
DISCLAIMER: the hebrew words are translated as "clean" and "unclean" but have a spiritual meaning more than a physical one and the concept is not one i can adequately explain here.
gay orthodox males do not have a probelm with the laws of niddah amongst themselves.
also, i have met many orthodox men who will shake hands with other women in their community if that woman offers her hand first. by offering her hand she is showing that she is not in "her time."
i recognize that these laws may seem ridiculous at best, misogynst at worst to many outside the community.
but i would urge that you be respectful of others regardless of your personal beliefs, at least in your public dealings with them.
their ways may not be yours, or even mine, but imo, orthodox jews have been part of the reason the jewish community is still in existence.
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Rifka, sweets, I think you're seeing offense where none is intended.
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but no, i definitely didn't see his post as being offensive.
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ha:)
look, love, you're getting sir'd on the internets! woot!
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i didn't mean to assume anything about gender- i think i assumed (and i totally shouldn't have- i plead being tired and hungry when i posted) because afaik zahav is a masculine word, the feminine equivalent is zahava.
but again i totally apologize if i offended.
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