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I will try to be as brief as possible. This happens to be very timely, now before Purim.
About 20 years ago, my husband and I davened in a well known Yeshivish Minyan in BP, with very Choshuve people, where we were comfortable. One Purim, when I was very obviously pregnant, we went to Shul for Megilah Laining. Because I am thin, there is no way anyone couldnt have noticed that I was very pregnant. Exactly as I got to the womens section, the Bracha was being said. It was perfect timing. There were many females of all ages who were there. I am fully aware that one may not speak during Megilah Laining. Yet with that, I couldnt believe that not a single teen motioned to me, to offer me their seat, nor did a mother motion to her teen to do so. I told my husband that I felt so badly treated by that, that I asked him to leave the Minyan and we did. People ask me why we left. I tell my very close friends and relatives why, to others I just give a random excuse.
In the 45 minutes of Megilah Laining, with brief stops for Haman’s name, I think someone should have offered me their seat. Think a skinny person holding a watermelon for 45 minutes. As the Megillah ended, no one commented or apologized either. I felt like I must have been invisible.
To this day, I wonder what others would have done.
Dont take this the wrong way. I would have come a little earlier than “Exactly as I got to the womens section, the Bracha was being said” to be sure I got a seat.
I second apushatayid.
Your reaction is understandable. (Some invalid excuses: the poor teens were fasting all day… Many/most of the people there were not regulars either, so they didn’t feel at home and comfertable welcoming others. Still, a seat should have been offered and it’s very hurtful)
apushatayid: That sounds a little mean
Um, its 20 years later.
I don’t see a problem with what you did by leaving the shul. Had Ittisa told me a simliar story, I would probably do the same.
Every “Ezras Nushim” should have a Gabbai’ta just the way the man have that should make sure that the unregulers (like young mothers who only come on special ocations like purim, simchas torah, rosh hashana or doring a simcha) should be welcomed, seated and given a siddur etc.
ofcourse
I guess you should try to be Dan L’Kaf Z’chus the women and girls in the shul, because that’s the right thing to do.
Personally, I find it pretty embarrasing that such an incident can take place in a frum shul. It is completely unacceptable.
Where I daven, no girl would have the audacity to sit if there is an older woman standing! And if it’s a pregnant woman, you would find bubbies offering their seat to her!
This better be a one-in-a-million situation….
Manners, simple as that…but it’s been 20 yrs so I think it’s time to move on?
Just as they are starting the bracha is not on time, (unless you are a yekke?).
I’m not condoning not getting up for a pregnant woman, however, you were certainly NOT on time. You are also wrong, even if after 20 years you won’t admit it.
i think what a pushetayid, and some others were trying to say, is that if someone has a very important need for a seat, it behooves them to come well on time (rather than relying on the good manners of others). if its not such an important need then its fine to come at the last minute. as they said of course that doesnt excuse the failure of good manners on the part of others
yes
youre right
Of course, you hve to understand, that in most Shuls, Megillah is a time you hve to come early and CATCH a seat(bec so many woman are there).
These girls were definitely acting without much mentchlichkeit, but you gotta realize that they couldve come an hour early to get a seat.
And BTW, I always thought you’re a young teenager, and a boy at that!
i would love to ask all those girls and women why they acted as they did (assuming they were asked the next day). It would be very interesting to hear what they have to say.
Ofcourse, you are 100% right without a doubt and I am glad you brought up this story before Purim. Maybe it will have an impact on readers and they will remember it if the situation arises this year in shul and they will have the proper manners so as not to hurt someone who is in the situation you were in at that time. You are teaching a good lesson at an appropriate time. Kol Hakovod to you.
For those who do not understand this, I feel sorry for you. There is no excuse for NO ONE offering her a seat. And the issue is not WHY she came just in time, the issue is what middos were these young women taught if they did not have the common sense to do so?
Of course: I feel bad that you have not gotten over it. Chas veshalom, I am not minimizing the feelings that you must have had and still have. I guess people did not take the time to look around and see that you were standing there. I am sure it was not personal. Careless, yes. Personal, no. I feel that to leave one’s shul over this is a little drastic. Just my opinion.
Let it go. It has been twenty years. There is a freedom in letting go of annoying situations. Why carry it around?
probably
they probably would say they didnt notice you
maybe they noticed you but were concentrating and figured someone else would surely give you a seat
whatever it is, i find it difficult to condemn a whole bunch of frum Jewish women who come to shul to hear the Megillah
i understand how you feel, and i wasnt there, and im sure the best of our Jewish women would have made a point of noticing you and giving you a seat,
but i just cant condemn themthere is always another side to the story
and usually when we hear it our heart softens and we drop our previously harsh judgement
thank you for not getting defensive and for listening thoughtfully to those here that did not fully agree with you.
you probably need a different type of kehilah, where everyone feels like a family and is always looking out for others. where people tend to actually be on the lookout for opportunities to do Chesed. thats the kind of place i also like
i think you made the right decision in going somewhere else
thank you for not getting defensive and for listening thoughtfully to those here that did not fully agree with you.
Oh yeah! You can say that again! Doesn’t happen too often here!
Let me try. For 20 years I was trying to find some merit to their behavior. So here goes. While YOU know your outline & shape, it’s quite possible these women & girls did not notice, they were intently concentrating of the reading. It happens. Sometimes things are more obvious to you than to others. Please be mochel on the twenty first Yom Kippur following this incident.
Yay, I did my first Limud Zchus mitzvah for today!
btw I find myself too in such situation (not exactly the same), if the need truly arises, I would somehow muster enough courage to request courtesy.
Like someone mentioned, it was after everyone was still fasting for a full day.
True but so was the pregnant woman, even more so a reason to give her a seat.
You did right for leaving, as who would want to daven in a place where there is no middos?
The only thing I would have done, was tell people the REAL reason you left. Its not loshon horoh, its fact.
No one stood up, because no one cared. And if no one points it out to them, they will keep making the same mistake.
Ofcourse…I am sorry you still feel bad about what happened and that it hurt you. If you could find it in your heart to forgive these people it would be such a zechus for you and your family.
And IY”H you will teach your children and teens to give an adult a seat (even if she’s not pregnant). good shabbos
And for those who are using the ” they were fasting all day” defense, watch how quick and nimble these girls will be packing / delivering Shlach Monos right after they break their fast.
Are some women weak? Perhaps. But to say that NO ONE had the strength? No, its that no one had the interest.
A friend of mine has a great line, for when things get pushed off by people who were asked to help out, and are given plenty of notice; “you don’t have a scedule conflict.. you have a priority conflict”.
Do things sometimes not work out? Of course. But for not ONE person to have the strength to stand up?
Please.
OK Round one didn’t work. Let’s move on to round two.
I know the shul you went to. It was for handicapped girls. You had two feet, they would have loved to stand up for you. I heard of a familiar story, a boy on a bus in Eretz Yisroel didn’t stand up for an elderly man. He felt everyones stares and hung his head low. Finally someone pushed him off his seat, and then noticed his crutches. The boy hobbled of at the next stop.
While we’re at it we’ll proceed to Round Three. Question (private) Was that a sudden condition. You just became ‘obviously pregnant’ while in shul? Or maybe you came in shul with the intention to push out first-class-high-priced-seat occupants with your belated appearance? Did you even know how much they paid?
although I agree someone should have stood, personally once the megilla starts i concentrate on every word so i don’t miss, i probably would not have noticed you unless you were standing right on top of me.
I most definitely think you should go back, especially if you’re in the same condition!
Go back. It’ll help begin healing your 20 years of unmitigated pain.
“Now, next question, any reason I/we should or shouldnt consider going back 20 years post-experience?”
You can learn from your mistakes. But, dwelling on hurtful memories won’t do you any good. It’s a skill that takes some time to learn. You gotta forgive others as well as yourself. In my life, I’ve made MANY mistakes. I used to dwell on them over and over again – which of course made me pretty upset. I finally learnt to let go of them and move on with life. Of course I make sure not to do them again, and I try learning from my mistakes. I’m still young and I’ll make some more mistakes in the yrs to come, won’t I? Also, ppl are HUMAN just as me and you. I’m NOT justifying their actions (I personally don’t understand how that happened in a frum shul), but, maybe try being Dan Lekaf Zechus. And YOU’ll make sure to teach YOUR kids to do what’s right! Hatzlacha!
They may have thought that you were standing on purpose. My mother stands for the reading of the megilah.
After 20 years the playing field has changed, there are new people mixed in with the old and you should feel comfortable no matter the crowd. BTW, the kids who were then seated will probably be the preggers this time around.
Do I have to spell it out?
What I indicated is, if you’re in the same matzav now (watermelon), go back to the same shul and give shevach v’hoda’ah!
ook, first thing straight- to all those who say you should have come on time, who are you to judge why she didn;t come on time? i know that i myself was pregnant last year purim and made it right before the megillah because i was busy throwing up in the bathroom the entire morning and couldn’t pry myself away from the toilet to make it there earlier. so i don’t deserve a seat because i was late? What if I can’t find parking? APY, i can tell you are not a women, so don’t rush to conclusions like that. do you know what its like to be pregnant? do you know what the i-cant-breath-have no-energy-and-feel-like-im gonna throw up on your head feeling is? what about women with circulation problems? what about if she was in the ninth month when its very painful to stand? contractions can happen from seventh month, although not painful its uncomfortable. your gonna tell this poor lady you have to suffer because you came right before for whatever reason – which isnt even late?! coming earlier is smart planning, but i challenge you to time a pregnant lady and see how fast she can move especially in the morning.
I think you were right to leave the shul.
Interesting. You are quick to point out that they had no excuses to remain seated, yet 20 years later you are still making excuses for yourself why you couldn’t come earlier.
What makes you think that had she come 10 minutes earlier someone would have given her their seat or that there would have been an empty seat 10 minutes earlier?
You bring out some interesting points:
1. That there is a lack of Derech Eretz in our generation starting at least twenty years ago. I don’t think such a thing would have happenned when I was a kid. But, even some shuls nowadays this wouldn’t have occurred. I know the Rebbitzin of my shul makes sure every lady has a seat!
2. Not speaking out then to whomever -to complain and just bottling it up inside of you, has done nothing but cause you uneeded anguish. You proved the point -Never bottle up anything inside!
3. When did it become more important to listen to Megilla than keep Derech Eretz? I find many people who have every chumra on every D’rabbonim but keeping D’oraysahs of Bein Odom L’chavero is non-existant! Who was Mechanech these people?
Everyone please remember, even if you yourself have Derech Eretz, you should make a Mechoh (protest) if you see someone not doing what they are supposed to. My mother sometimes can’t believe certain behaviors. People jumping into a parking space, while she was waiting. Not letting her go ahead of them in line, being that she is old and only has a few items.
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