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Subject:
The Invisible Jew Posted by Dr. Ursula A. Falk Posted
11/2/00 The invisible Jew is
one you do not see. He or she is
the poor Jew who cannot join the country club, attend
theaters and symphonies or even join the synagogue.
He is not the doctor, lawyer or stockbroker who is sought after and
admired by his fellow religionists. He
comes in many shapes and sizes. He
or she is the person who works in the factory or is a clerk in a supermarket or
drug store. He is not invited to boards
since he cannot contribute money as he has none to give.
In fact no one even knows he exists.
He will not beg for a free ticket for
the high holidays or embarrass himself by appearing before a committee to
determine whether he is worthy of taking up a seat in a temple.
She does not have the wardrobe to impress others nor the funds to visit
the beauty parlor to have her hair coiffed.
She may be the immigrant whose English is flawed, or the shy one who
feels out of place. If she does
appear in the synagogue or other Jewish meeting
room she is ignored since she can "do nothing"
to further the interests of others.
She is unable to get them introductions to important people, help them to
make worthwhile contacts or enhance their status in the community. She is a threat since she has needs and wants and might
even contaminate them with her poverty. They
may be superficially polite and nod to her from a distance but for the most part
they don’t recognize her at all. |
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