To preface, I have lived among non-Jews my entire life. Never in my childhood did I have any questions regarding the difference between us and them.But sometimes, when I'm in a public place, and I see someone open a bag of nosh and dig in, I think with a start almost like an innocent child, "Stop! You didn't make a bracha!"
Before a second passes, I realize that the individual in question is (probably) a gentile and doesn't know anything about brachot, and in fact has no reason too.
And then I think, Poor guy.
And I feel lucky, lucky, lucky for being an FFB. I grasp the moment to ponder the meaning of brachot and my connection to G-d. I feel warm and fuzzy and hope that the feeling will last a little longer.
It's funny, though: there are sins going on all around me but this particular jolt only happens when they eat.
9 comments:
Funny.
I think I'm more in tune to someone not kissing the mezuzah.
To each his (or her) own.
(see - I posted!)
I have these moments sometimes.
It's not something particular; it depends on what happened on that day.
I'm surprised it doesn't hit you with issues of dress. I think that really brings out differences.
3 commentators on one post-- I think that's a TT record! :P
Thanks, people.
It's nice to know I'm not the only one who does this. I was starting to wonder... guess I'm not so quirky after all!
IFT-- With dress I expect it to be awful. Also, gilui arayos is forbidden to bnay noach, while they have no obligation in brachos. Anyway, what shocks me the most in the clothing department is not even the horrible levels of exposure by goyim, but when Jewish girls, especially Bais Yaakov graduates, violate basic laws of dress. I just can't figure out what they could possibly be telling themselves to justify these things.
It's definitely hard to fathom.
I discuss the issue on my blog. I would love to hear your opinion.
http://independentfrumthinker.blogspot.com/2006/12/tznius.html
you know that warm and fuzzy feeling ? That's your ego. There is no other reason to assume that nonJews somehow do not connect to Hashem as you do. Cheers.
osmix-- nice to meet you. Sorry that I'm going to disagree with you on our very first encounter (some of my best friendships started that way, btw)
Anyway, non-Jews most certainly do not connect to HaShem in the same way as Jews. We alone were given 613 mitzvot for that purpose. Can they connect? Sure, but in a different way, on a different level.
My intention is not to offend non-Jews. It's simply that we're different. The way it's not an insult to an orange to say that it doesn't taste quite like an apple.
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