Reply To: wording to decline a hand shake?

I am in a profession that requires a lot of handshaking, and I always use the same line, and have had very few problems: I don’t shake hands for religious reasons,” and then I move on. Sometimes it’s awkward for 30 seconds, but people get over it, if they don’t, they aren’t being professional. If you don’t make a big deal, chances are that they won’t. It’s a good way to know at an interview if they have a problem with religious observances. (Which I have dealt with, it’s part of galus.) Find a mentor who has done it. Good for you YY, you will find a job that will be an appropriate fit. If handshaking will hurt you professionally, keeping shabbos/leaving early Fridays has been a much more difficult hurdle, like you saw at the interview. Hatzlacha.