Hat in Public

Asked by A. L. · December 8, 2005 · Ethics

Question

I attend a non-Jewish college (a separate story) and I try to wear my hat and jacket whenever I am there in order to 1) make a geder not to intermingle with aino yehudim/ yehudos and 2) because I assumed that lichatchila it is always better to wear a hat in public and 3) because I daven mincha/ maariv in the school. An Orthodox student said that my wearing a hat and jacket makes all the frum Jews in college look weird, and that I should not be frum on his account. (I told him I'll ask a shaylas Rav) WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Answer

Answered by Chaim Yisrael Abadi

I guess he is embarassed about being Jewish. I assume you are stuck in this situation. It is very commendable that you are trying to protect yourself and making the best of a tough situation. Don't worry about that other guy. He has deeeeeper issues than you wearing a hat. Try to get him a Rov to straighten him out. Maybe send him to a Gateway Seminar for Orthodox singles. They created a Seminar for these kind of guys. CYA