A Bit Old, But Still Just As Funny...Or Sad

My wife and I came across a letter sent in to that great Jewish Metropolitan Newspaper, The Jewish Press. A woman who had just moved to Brooklyn complained that no one responded when she wished people a Good Shabbos. She wanted to know why Frum Jews aren't acting nicely. Rabbi Yaakov S. (name withheld - no Loshon Hara here! And yes, this dude PROUDLY SIGNED HIS NAME) sent a response to the Jewish Press.

So, basically, the Jews of Brooklyn are so holy, as holy, perhaps, as the Kohen Gadol performing the Avoda in the Bais Hamikdash, it is actually assur to interrupt their oh, so lofty thoughts and wish them a Good Shabbos or worse, expect them to wish you a Good Shabbos. Wow. Who knew?

Oh! And all you Modern Orthodox Jews out there: You are officially part of an "ilk." :)

Here's the full text:

In this week's edition, we find a suggestion that Ariel Sharon may have used the word "occupation" in reference to the Palestinians, but not to the Land Itself (Stupid Letter Honorable Mention), complaints about kashrus organizations, attacks on Rabbi Riskin (who "demonstrate[s] the ignorance and irresponsibility that plague this generation"), and a supposed dearth of Jewish singles events in The City (obviously this writer has never heard of "Shabbas Davening", held weekly at OZ). However, the big topic was last week's denouncement of frum brooklyn Jews who don't say "Good Shabbas" to their neighbors. Rabbi Yaakov Silver comes to their defense, and in doing so writes the Stupid Letter Of The Week:

It is difficult to say “Good Shabbos” to hundreds of people passing you (compared to living in a remote area where there are relatively few Yidden). Moreover, you would never make it home for the chulent if you stopped to greet each passerby.
But there is another reason why in frummer areas people don`t say “Good Shabbos.” Simply stated, in frummer crowds people are more focused on the holiness of Shabbos. I see many frum people (unlike many of the Modern Orthodox ilk) who are almost in a state of awe. When you are so focused on the holiness of Shabbos, you tend not to notice many things around you in the mundane physical world. In short, it`s not that they don`t want to be friendly to a fellow Yid. Rather, it`s that they are in an intense, uplifted state.

If one would see the kohen gadol doing the avoda in Yerushalayim, it would be easily understood why he couldn’t be distracted with greeting everyone. The same is true of the lofty spiritual people of Boro Park. They are no different than the kohen gadol in the bais hamikdash. Don`t forget, it`s these very same frum Yidden who help all in times of crisis, be it through Hatzoloh, Shomrim, Chaveirim, etc.

In other words, Modern Orthodox Jews show common decency and goodwill towards their neighbors because of their lesser spiritual awareness, and the frum people who walk past you without so much as a nod are in tune with true Godliness. Either that, or they really want to get home to that cholent.

This letter speaks for itself. Brooklyn Jews are apparently the equals of the Kohen Gadol performing the avoda in the Bais Hamikdash!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Yaakov Silver, you are the official village idiot of Brooklyn!