how many times were you asked if you were jewish today?

Twice this evening.

I think that the most appropriate answer, no matter what, is "No." Some guy mentioned that his father was Jewish, his mother wasn't. A Lubavitcher just chased him into the gym trying to give him a pamphlet. Talk about inappropriate. Another guy wearing a yarmulke got followed by a pair of men across Flatbush (in traffic!) all the way to the subway. At that point, I think that I would have gotten on the train just to get away from them.

belzjm wrote: feel free to use my stock response to the guy who hangs out on 7th avenue and has literally asked me 600 times in the last year...

him: "you jewish sir?"

me: "no, are you?"

at least i get to walk away with a smile...

I use a variation on this approach:
[him]:Are you Jewish
[me]: Are you?
[him]: Yes.
[me]: Really? How do you know?
...at this point I'm in control of the discussion and I make it as long or as short as I want. If the reply is "Because my mother is." I can reply "Well that may be what you've been told, but would it change anything if you found out that she wasn't?"

Or if I'm really ready to settle in I reply "Is having a Jewish mother all you need to be Jewish?"

And if I really want to put him through his paces I reply "My son is Jewish but his mother isn't. How can that be possible?" (trick question: we're a two-mom family and one of us is Catholic but we're raising the kids Jewish).

withachaser wrote: 4x today. 3 in bk, 1 in midtown. twice yesterday. lately, i've been answering, with a warm smile to the assertive young men, 'thanks for asking! in fact, i'm lesbian.' none of them have bothered to ascertain, after that, whether or not i'm also a jew. if i'm feeling particularly ironic/friendly/sadistic/jewish, i'll follow it with "l'shana tovah, to you and yours." the reactions often keep me entertained enough to avoid being irritable with them.

I like this one. I'm gonna try the lesbian thing next time too!

Subject: It's not Proselytizing; That is why they ASK YOU

Listen...Jews and non-Jews alike...native NY'ers and Newcomers...there is a reason you are ASKED if you are Jewish in these situations.

One of the tenants of Jewish code and law is that Jewish people of all 'levels' of faith are commanded NOT to convert, or proselytize to the general public...that is why people are asked if they are Jewish.

It's a basic law and custom almost all Jews, regardless of whether or not they are Reform, Conservative, Orthodox or Hassidic, follow.

If the answer is 'no' the conversation ends. No proselytizing! Get it?

This happens during the 'High Holidays and other times of the year like Hannuka...light the menorica...it's time for Hannukah...sing along with me.

Please note, this is not written 'in defense' of the Hassidic community, nor do I condone everything that goes on within that community. The post is written only to clarify why, in certain situations, people are asked if they are Jewish.

brooklynpotter wrote: it's rosh hashanah, and they want you to hear the prayers and the blowing of the shofar (a ram's horn). i believe (and i could be wrong) that hearing the horn is a necessity.

it's the lubavitch hasidim who are approaching you, the most lenient of all hasidim and the only ones who prosletize (sp?). they're the ones who run chabad.

Subject: indeed

agreed / well stated

Smokin' Joe wrote: well they certainly proselytize, but only to other jews. so you're right about that part. still, they proselytize big time. a huge part of what they do is recover lapsed jews. (see any post on this board by rabbi ari.)

another part of the rationale, i think, is that it's a mitzvah for jews to do certain things at certain times, e.g. recite the blessing for succot. according to my understanding of hasidism (which is admittedly superficial, so anyone who knows should feel free to correct me), the more jews performing the more mitzvot, the sooner the messiah comes.

as any mathematician will tell you, god is in the numbers.

personally, i think it's really rude to approach a total stranger and ask them about their personal beliefs/faith, or lack of... but that's me.