An Honest to Goodness Religious Employer

[HockeyMom]

No, I am not talking about some for profit religious business owner, but a position to an actual clergy member working right in a house of worship.

Years ago I applied for local job as an Admin.Asst. to a Rabbi at the Synagogue. No wondering whatsoever what this employer's religion was. I told him that I was not Jewish up front; former Catholic, and no religion now. He said he didn't care what my religion, or lack of, was.

He told me I only had to follow two rules at work. I could not openly wear a cross, or bring in a ham sandwich or cheeseburger to eat at work for lunch. No problem since all I ate were salads, fruit, and yogurt!

What he said next was what a TRUE religious employer should say. "I don't care what you do in your personal life". "Go to Church wearing the biggest cross you can find." "Roast a Sucking Pig in your backyard on Passover and invite the entire town." I almost fell out of my chair after that one. lol "I don't care what you do when not in the Synagogue". Now, if you think about it, HIS MONEY (my wages) would be paying for that "Suckling Pig". Why didn't he say that HIS MONEY was going towards something that was against his religion? "Facilitating" as Opus Dei Scalia said in his decision. Does that only apply to Christians, Scalia??????

Rabbi called me a few days later and offered me the position. I declined because I thought someone of the Jewish faith would be better suited to that position than me. I did have some regrets because Rabbi was a fair, respectful, and FUNNY man.

Just thought I would share my experience in light of what has been happening.

[longship]

1. Good story.

It sounds like it would have been a fun job working for that guy.

R&K

[Warpy]

2. It's too bad you turned it down

because it would be one of the best jobs you've ever had with a completely non judgmental employer.

[starroute]

3. Observent Jews keep kosher to mark themselves off from other people

So it would make no sense for an employer to insist that his non-Jewish employees do so in their own homes. It would kind of defeat the purpose of the thing.

Not to say he doesn't sound like a swell guy. But Judaism, unlike Christianity, generally isn't about imposing your personal beliefs and practices on others.

[HockeyMom]

5. I agree

That is why I specifically mentioned Scalia.

[tea and oranges]

9. "Observant Jews?"

Authoritarian Jews, like other authoritarians, do not easily give up the past. If that happens to include a world of inconvenience, then so be it.

Keeping Kosher is based on food hygiene from long ago & was designed to keep Jews healthy.

While I agree that such practices "mark themselves off from other people" it was hardly the original intent. To suggest that's so is a wee bit, I don't know, uninformed.

[freedom fighter jh]

10. Whether or not it's to "mark themselves off from other people,"

most of the rules that observant Jews follow, including most of the rules about food, do not, in their belief, apply to anyone who is not Jewish. There were many, many commandments made to the children of Israel, but only a few to the children of Noah. Only the ones made to Noah apply to everyone living today. That could explain why an observant Jewish boss would not care if you ate a ham sandwich at home.

[tea and oranges]

11. Who is this Noah fellow of whom you speak?

Oh wait, isn't he the dude who brought baby dinos on board a boat?

The point I was trying to make is that if you're going to talk about other religions, get it right!

There are 3 major divisions in Judaism, Orthodox, Conservative, Reform. None of them give a whoop about converting others. In fact, if you were to approach a rabbi & tell her/him that you wished to become a Jew, you would be greeted w/ skepticism & many questions.

I was brought up in an "observant" Reform synagogue. All holidays were celebrated. We were, however, agnostics. Only a few diehards wore yarmulkes. We ate what we believed was healthy. Most of our sermons were about ethics, morals, being good citizens.

Observant does not mean either fundamentalist, authoritarian, or Orthodox.

[freedom fighter jh]

12. Can you explain?

You tell me I need to get it right. What did I get wrong?

The way you talk about conversion it sounds like you are referring to something already in the conversation. What?

Probably I should have said "Orthodox" rather than "observant."

[tea and oranges]

13. Exactly!

Orthodox rather than observant. The 2 are worlds apart. My father was raised Orthodox & hated it!

My comment about getting it right was intended for another, but I appreciate your efforts.

[steve2470]

4. He sounds like he would have been a good employer nt

[shenmue]

6. I wish every boss were like that.

Good for him and you.

[blkmusclmachine]

7. Christian Dominionists can't get to Heaven if they allow "free choice," "democracy," or "secular law

[Aerows]

8. I've worked for two Jewish people and found them to be

great employers. They weren't in my face about religion, and as long as I did a good job, they didn't care about my personal life. I also found them to be loyal to their employees.

That's my experience and I wouldn't hesitate to work for and with Jewish people. They are hard working people that like to mind their own business, in my experience - which suits me, because I am like that, too.