36 replies to this topic

[Zicher]

Are you the only Jew in your office? Do you have issues washing for bread at work, or making brachos? Is it hard to steal away time to daven mincha?

[LoveToLaugh]

I am one of many many Jews at work. Sometimes I wish there were fewer.....but its generally nice and haimish. I doubt anyone would have issues with mincha with religious freedom being what it is; but I wonder if other issues arise from being one of the only frum Jews at work, especially in a very corporate and professional office.

[geekmom]

I'm the lonely only Jew, let alone frum Jew, at most places I work. At one, I was teased for covering my hair and also had to deal with antisemitic jokes. (Fun.) I have had hassles over holidays and over Shabbos. Mostly, though, I just get weird questions and I'm seen as a novelty. Mostly, it's not bad. I do have to find graceful ways to dodge lunch invitations and handshakes, but the office is nice and quiet near the end of December.

[LoveToLaugh]

I'm the lonely only Jew, let alone frum Jew, at most places I work. At one, I was teased for covering my hair and also had to deal with antisemitic jokes. (Fun.) I have had hassles over holidays and over Shabbos. Mostly, though, I just get weird questions and I'm seen as a novelty. Mostly, it's not bad. I do have to find graceful ways to dodge lunch invitations and handshakes, but the office is nice and quiet near the end of December.

Interesting --- is this in NYC? (you dont have to share if you don't want obviously, its just somewhat suprising to see outright religious mockery and anti-semitisim here in NYC).

[starwolf]

I have been the only religious Jew in places that I have worked.

I never had any trouble being observant in any of them.

[Amber]

I am one of many many Jews at work. Sometimes I wish there were fewer.....

Why?

[Zicher]

Do you wash netilas yadayim/make brachos/bench in front of non-Jewish co-workers, or do you do it when nobody is looking?

[starwolf]

I daven privately.

[LoveToLaugh]

Why?

Too monotonous. I like flavor and variety.

[Shoshi]

Too monotonous. I like flavor and variety.

I work with lots of/mostly Jews now. I kinda like it. But they're not mostly frum.

[LoveToLaugh]

I work with lots of/mostly Jews now. I kinda like it. But they're not mostly frum.

Mine are mostly frum. And typical. Yawn.

[Savannah]

I find that it's generally more awkward and unpleasant to work with Jews (frum and non-frum alike) than with non-Jews.

[LoveToLaugh]

I find that it's generally more awkward and unpleasant to work with Jews (frum and non-frum alike) than with non-Jews.

I don't find them awkward or unpleasant as a whole.....just rather boring. And generally unambitious and not interested in going above and beyond. But some do so its not everyone.

[Shoshi]

How interesting. I feel differently than you guys, savannah and LTL.
I've worked in both Jewish environments and non-Jewish environments and I much prefer the Jewish environments. If anything, I find the Jewish coworkers more ambitious and more interested in going above and beyond, more rosh gadol and less rosh katan. And less attitude!

[LoveToLaugh]

How interesting. I feel differently than you guys, savannah and LTL.
I've worked in both Jewish environments and non-Jewish environments and I much prefer the Jewish environments. If anything, I find the Jewish coworkers more ambitious and more interested in going above and beyond, more rosh gadol and less rosh katan. And less attitude!

In my environment, most of the Jewish people I refer to are tired frum moms like me who are good at what they do but not aiming for the stars if you know what I mean. I think in general, working with the clientele that we do in a place where the feel is often 'do just enough' its hard to find truly ambitious hard workers.

[Savannah]

How interesting. I feel differently than you guys, savannah and LTL.
I've worked in both Jewish environments and non-Jewish environments and I much prefer the Jewish environments.

Probably because you're not Orthodox. As a Centrist, I get hit from all sides. From the frummies who think I'm a goy and from the MO'ers who think I'm a frummy, and from the non-frum who either think that all I'm interested in talking about is Judaism or that I'm looking down on them.

And I have found that none of them are as good bosses or co-workers as non-Jews. Not that non-Jews are all stellar, far from it, but I expect better from Jews and I'm always disappointed.

[LoveToLaugh]

In my 11 years of work, I haven't noticed a difference between secular Jews and non-Jews.

Secular and religious, often yes, although not always.

[Shoshi]

In my 11 years of work, I haven't noticed a difference between secular Jews and non-Jews.

Secular and religious, often yes, although not always.

Wow, I totally disagree.

I haven't worked with many frum Jews, not enough to comment.

But I feel there's quite a big difference between non-Orthodox Jews and non-Jews in the work world.

To put it bluntly, we have better work attitudes! We are often more professional, and at the same time less hierarchical. Internally motivated, rather than motivated by fear or even by money.

It was only when I worked with non-Jews did I face situations where workers were "afraid of getting written up", or also "only willing to do their job, no more", etc.

[LoveToLaugh]

I guess everyone has difference experience with their coworkers

[Shoshi]

In my environment, most of the Jewish people I refer to are tired frum moms like me who are good at what they do but not aiming for the stars if you know what I mean. I think in general, working with the clientele that we do in a place where the feel is often 'do just enough' its hard to find truly ambitious hard workers.

By the way, LTL, I highly doubt that you are really just a 'tired frum mom" at work. And I bet you are more than just "good" at what you do. I bet you are much more skilled and dedicated than you give yourself credit for.