I noticed a few rabbis don't want to shake hands with me. Is it beacuse I'm Chinese and my hand might be filled with pork particles?
My bosses are Jewish and we frequently do pro-bono work for synagogues. These non-paying jobs are often handed to me, but my bosses are still the front men for meetings. Sometimes I go to the job site to clarify things with the workers and meet with the rabbis. Not all, but I noticed a few rabbis don't want to shake hands with me.
I found it a bit rude to treat someone who has done pro-bono work for them, but I would like to think there are some other reasons.
Is there some religious/cultural prohibition against shaking hands?
2007-05-23 05:05:21 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's actually because you are a woman. When orthadox Jews get married, they make a commitment never to touch another woman, even in the slightest way. It's nothing personal, just a religious prohibition.
2007-05-23 05:08:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Your avatar appears female, so I will assume you are female.
I will also assume that your bosses are Orthodox or Chassidich Jews, and/or that the Synagogues you do pro-bono work for are Orthodox or Chassidich.
If both assumptions are true, please take no offense. Some strict sects of Judaism forbid the Rabbi from touching any female but his wife, because to touch a woman when she is menstruating would make him ritually unclean, and he would not know if she was or not. His wife he would reasonably know when she is menstruating and thus knows when he can and cannot touch her and remain ritually clean.
2007-05-23 05:11:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Orthodox Jews do not touch members of the opposite sex, unless they are close family. It doesn't have anything to do with your being Chinese, or with your being non-Jewish. It is just a modesty thing.
2007-05-23 05:16:28 · answer #3 · answered by Heron By The Sea 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They might be Orthodox Jews. They won't shake hands with a woman they aren't married or related to, or anything like that.
2007-05-23 05:10:49 · answer #4 · answered by Dublin Ducky 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
don't worry, it's not meant to be taken the wrong way. orthodox jews have this belief of not shaking or touching people of the opposite sex (only those that aren't related)...it's a belief that one thing can lead to another. so don't be offended, it's just a religious belief.
2007-05-23 13:51:06 · answer #5 · answered by -♦One-♦-Love♦- 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you're indignant that she did no longer shake your hand? i'm indignant by way of your rude remark "having a stupid Jewish custom like that" and that i'm no longer Jewish. How dare you communicate with somebody's faith as stupid. You sound very insensitive and not very bright.
2016-10-31 04:37:06 · answer #6 · answered by Erika 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some orthodox Jewish men do not touch women(besides thier wives) Don't take it offensively
2007-05-24 18:06:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's religious.
I remember reading an article on Matisyahu, saying how it's against his religion to touch women I think.
Damn my memory is shot to hell today
Yes thank you Skalite.
2007-05-23 05:08:12 · answer #8 · answered by Southpaw 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Orthodox men do not touch non relative females. Do not take it personally it is not meant that way.
2007-05-23 05:10:25 · answer #9 · answered by Quantrill 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋