Offended Ashkenaz

Asked by private · January 18, 2004 · Comments

Question

"I was at a Syrian Bar Mitzvah recently and the band was playing "Uveeny Malkaini" and the clothing looked like I was in Budapest. Are we that insecure and embarrassed about our heritage that we need to look like them in order to feel religious? AA" I am a frequent visitor to this website and a frequent donator to your father's kollel. However, I am Ashkenaz and was very offended by this statement. "... that we need to look like them..." you sound like we are an inferior race. Now, I know that's not what you meant, but please, sometimes certain things are said a little too harshly don't you think?

Answer

Answered by Aaron Abadi

You took it wrong. Let's not get too sensitive. I would say the same if Ashkenazim felt they must look like Sephardim in order to really be Frum. Why can't everyone be proud of their heritage? AA