By Penina Metal
In light of the need to highlight the importance of tznius as befits a Jewish woman, I would like to share with you an amazing experience that I had recently.
I had an hour between appointments, so I rushed into Macy’s in Herald Square to see if I could purchase a pair of shoes.
A very nice African-American saleswoman tried to help me and insisted on walking me to another area to try to find a good fit for me.
When she received a box from the storeroom, something looked off with the shoes. To me it appeared as if the shoes were of two different sizes.
She checked inside the shoes and let out a horrified exclamation: “You can’t wear these!”
Why not?
“They are lined with pig-skin,” she said. “You are Jewish! You cannot wear these! This is disgusting!”
My jaw nearly dropped.
She went on to say, “I am going to tell any other Jewish women that I see, that you cannot wear these shoes.”
People labeling Jews is a problem these days on social media, but in this case, I was extremely proud.
I was proud that I looked like a Jewish woman. I was dressed appropriately and wearing a shaitel. I was proud that I represented Yiddishkeit and the Rebbe, appropriately.
I know that Halacha does permit one to wear pig-lined shoes, but I still felt honored to be labeled Jewish.
The point here is that the saleswoman realized Mrs. Metal was jewish and made sure she wouldn’t do something she felt Jews can’t do. That’s what I find amazing. I once went for an interview somewhere and the African American guy that did the interview said that he won’t offer his hand to me to shake since he knew it’s forbidden for Jews and he could tell I was jewish. It’s very heartwarming when people are sensitive to our needs. They’ll only be sensitive to our issues if we dress like Jews
=9= YES CHITZONIUS IS A REFLECTION OF THE PENIMIUS!!!!!
WE ALL WEAR OUR JEWISHNESS ON OUR NOSES:
EVEN IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE NOSE:
SO REMEMBER THAT WHATEVER YOU DO OR WEAR SHOULD BE LABELED A KIDDUSH HASHEM!!!!
To many people it is indeed an obsession with appearances. A technical compliance while ignoring the pnimius elements. Hundred thousand dollar plus simchas with mechitzas and mehadrin gourmet food, charity events that are festivals of self indulgence and so on. We might spend more time cultivating adelkeit than policing women’s clothing. Hatzneh leches is also about walking humbly with Hashem in our lives in all respects!
Most good shoes are leather-lined, so even if she thought Jews would not be allowed to have a pig-skin lining, what caused her – a non-jew, to react that way and exclaim “this is disgusting!”?
Could it be that she is already feeling the times of Moshiach when the entire world and everything in it will be for the purpose of Kedusha and to serve the Jewish nation?
Then again we must inform this sincere lady – according to the sources this treif animal specifically will be Kosher when Moshiach comes….
Tznius = chitzonius ???
Maybe a sheitel and tefillin are also chitzonius . . .
Walking through some neighborhoods in New York it is very clear that not all Jews wear their Jewishness distinguishably, and sadly so, it has become extremely unique in some circles to be recognized as a Jew/ess …
That is an amazing story! A true kiddush hashem!
if management knew that she lost a potential sale and was assiduous about alerting other Jewish women not to buy certain shoes. Just think how amazing her action is!
Perel Chava
The sales lady was excellent. And maybe more people should recognize her good deed. .
While I tip my hat to the saleswoman for her cultural awareness and sensitivity, I am proverbially scratching my head, attempting to understand the jist of this article.
Is the writer “proud” that she was recognized as a Jewess? Don’t we all wear our Jewishness distinguishably? Is it so unique that she was recognizably Jewish?
Time to obsess more about what our charachter is like and less about pure chitzonius
deserves expressed appreciation for her innate kindness and character. She sets an example that all can emulate. I hope someone goes to the manager and articulates the extraordinary quality of character that saleswoman portrayed.
You are halachicly allowed to wear pigskin, you are not allowed to eat it
כל הכבוד!!
You may have missed the last line of the article: “I know that Halacha does permit one to wear pig-lined shoes…”
gosh never thought about pig skin inside the shoe…how many times this could have happened to me..why the shoes I am wearing right now could have pig skin lining, but unlikely, they are from Naot, made in Israel..lucky for Penina, she had a big sister at Macys watching out for her..
BS”D Yes & kudos also to the sales lady
amazing, thanks for sharing, always stories with penina, on line, in the jewish press!!
She was judged for her look, so too shall everyone else judge themselves for their look, looks count for better or for…
Amazing, shall many be inspired from her deeds.
ממנה יראו וכן יעשו
Women, men and children alike.