Religious Observance in the Workplace

Michael Eisenberg (Six Kids and a Fill Time Job) writes about the importance of feeling comfortable with public displays of Jewishness in the work place. For instance he asks:

How proud do you feel about your observances? Are you constantly running to hide them? When you need to put on tefillin in the morning and find yourself in an airport, do you wait for mincha and your quiet hotel room or do you put them on for shacharit in the airport (both are halachikly acceptable)?

Comments

[Nicole]

As luck would have it, I work at a Catholic college.

[Isabelle]

I read the story directly from Michael's blog, it is a nice one. As a woman, I can't think about many circumstances where my Jewish identity was a problem.
I sometimes daven in airports but I must admit I don't stand up. Come to think about it, maybe the fact that I don't stand up means that I am not as comfortable with my observance as I think.

[judi]

I work for someone who's as observant as I am and there are plenty of MOs and even a haredi in my department (at a large university). Some come to work with "tefillin head".

I'd previously worked in a firm run by Russian Jews. They suspected I was making up obscure holidays and occasionally asked why I didn't take a "vacation" from kashrus once in a while to try something that was really good (like pizza with pepperoni????).

My husband covers his head on consulting gigs. He figures it's who he is. Besides, he's tall, broad-shouldered and handsome, so who's gonna say anything? ;-)

[Eugene Gershin]

Hi! Please grab anti-Olmert's Purim buttons from http://samsonblinded.org/blog/purim_banners.htm
The buttons are free and could be hotlinked. Let's make some fun of Olmert!

[Alex]

Hi

Please consider writing news pieces or an op-ed for Jewrusalem: Israeli Uncensored News. We strive to present different views and opinions while rejecting political correctness. Ideally, we try to make the news "smart and funny." Thus, your input is very welcome.

Best,
Alex
www.jewrusalem.net/en

[Evahava]

A candle to share the light,

Being a modern (French) Jewish woman, with all its professional and familial implications, is not always the easiest way to live. I read your comments and I too am in search for inner peace and spirituality to match my identity and the world I live in.

I recently found an amazing resource for all Jewish women all over the world and it really changed something in me. www.fridaylight.org provides great background and stories about women and Judaism. After visiting this website, I started lighting Shabbat candles, thinking that it was a token gesture that could carry significant meaning. Indeed, it brought such warmth and harmony into my home that I felt as if I had brought some more peace into this world.

I encourage all Jewish women to check out this website. Thank you for reading my story and keep sharing yours.

G-d bless you.

[Garnel Ironheart]

In this multicultural day and age, it's a lot easier than it might have once been. In my job, I'm not the only guy who covers his head with something. In fact, I sometimes get turban envy around my Sikh colleagues.
The way I've come to see it, if people from south Asia and Africa have no fears about wearing their brightly coloured ethnic gear in public, why should I worry about my kippah being noticed?

[Liat]

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Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments.

[Katja]

Hi Karen,

long time no hear! I'I'll be in Raanana this Shabbat and I'd love to catch up. Are you free perhaps on Sunday morning or so for a chat? I'll be in the country another 2 weeks, so lemme know. 052.7392675. Esmach lismho'a mimech!

Shabbat Shalom,
Katja

[Shimmy Rosenblum]

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