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Post by garrett on Nov 29, 2023 21:50:06 GMT -8
I've seriously considered whether to place the menorah in the window, on full display, to the public this year.
Will I light it? Yes. But I'm concerned that I'll come home from work to find my house in flames, or worse. It only takes one bad actor to do a lot of damage and change the entire course of life.
Anyone else thinking about this?
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Post by alon on Nov 30, 2023 13:20:05 GMT -8
I've seriously considered whether to place the menorah in the window, on full display, to the public this year. Will I light it? Yes. But I'm concerned that I'll come home from work to find my house in flames, or worse. It only takes one bad actor to do a lot of damage and change the entire course of life. Anyone else thinking about this?
I do not place my titzyot on belt loops. I wear a tallit katan. These were developed by Medieval Jews if memory serves, so they could a) have a 4 cornered garment to wear with changing dress, and b) tuck them in in times of trouble so as not to be so conspicuous. I wear mine out, but then my region is not as anti-Semitic as some.
My wife's father and uncle escaped Germany about 2 steps ahead of the Brown Shirts. She was raised in a community that had lived through some of the worst oppression. She still will not allow me to place our Chanukiah in the window. So I am an advocate away from home, but about the only advocacy I do from home is the internet.
We all will have to decide how we handle this question. Right now I'd say make a realistic assessment of the risks and err on the side of caution. If my house burns down or even is vandalized or robbed it will be very difficult to bless Israel with a relief check (and they sorely need help right now).
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Post by garrett on Dec 3, 2023 18:40:20 GMT -8
I've seriously considered whether to place the menorah in the window, on full display, to the public this year. Will I light it? Yes. But I'm concerned that I'll come home from work to find my house in flames, or worse. It only takes one bad actor to do a lot of damage and change the entire course of life. Anyone else thinking about this?
I do not place my titzyot on belt loops. I wear a tallit katan. These were developed by Medieval Jews if memory serves, so they could a) have a 4 cornered garment to wear with changing dress, and b) tuck them in in times of trouble so as not to be so conspicuous. I wear mine out, but then my region is not as anti-Semitic as some.
My wife's father and uncle escaped Germany about 2 steps ahead of the Brown Shirts. She was raised in a community that had lived through some of the worst oppression. She still will not allow me to place our Chanukiah in the window. So I am an advocate away from home, but about the only advocacy I do from home is the internet.
We all will have to decide how we handle this question. Right now I'd say make a realistic assessment of the risks and err on the side of caution. If my house burns down or even is vandalized or robbed it will be very difficult to bless Israel with a relief check (and they sorely need help right now).
It sounds like your wife certainly has some incentive to err on the side of caution (!). I'm not wringing my hands about it but it seems pretty clear in my mind to keep it away from the window. There's just enough of a demographic in my neighborhood to ring alarm bells. I think I'm like you, when I'm out and about it's less of a concern. But... recently I've noticed myself taking things off when I get in my car to leave work, in less confident days. Interesting times! I'm glad to not be in Europe but I have no illusions about our own circumstances in the US. Either way, light it somewhere, right?? |
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