Why Don't People Put Their Names/Addresses In Their Tallis/Tefillin Bags?

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  • #617701
    WolfishMusings
    Participant

    I’ve just seen a post on Facebook about a pair or tefillin found on a train. The post is asking people to spread the picture to help identify the owner. The tefillin bag had the owner’s initials embroidered on the bag.

    This is not the first time I’ve seen such a post. Nor the second time or even the tenth.

    I don’t understand why people don’t simply take an index card or a piece of paper, write on it “if lost, please contact…. ” and keep it there. It would prevent these sorts of situations.

    My tallis bag has my patronymic Hebrew name on it, and so, I have a piece of paper in there with my name, address, phone number and email address. In short, if someone finds my tallis and tefillin, I want to make it as easy as possible for them to find me* and be able to return my tallis and tefillin to me.

    So, why don’t people do this? Why do people make it harder for their tallis and tefillin to be properly returned to them if lost?**

    The Wolf

    * You might ask why I don’t have my last name embroidered on the tallis bag then (as many do). Truth is, it’s a bag that my daughter made for me in grade school and so I use it out of sentimental value.

    ** Please, don’t tell me that doing so would be a bizayon to the tefillin… it’s certainly not worse than writing your name in your sefer, which, to the best of my knowledge, NO ONE has a problem with.

    #1151626
    Joseph
    Participant
    #1151627
    Avram in MD
    Participant

    WolfishMusings,

    So, why don’t people do this?

    Because I never thought about it. But hey, good idea.

    Why do people make it harder for their tallis and tefillin to be properly returned to them if lost?

    Because I’m a horrible person who doesn’t care about causing others inconvenience, apparently. >:-)

    #1151628
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    I was at the mall last week, and they were announcing on the speakers that would the parents of some doofus come to customer service.

    And I’m like, why not just tattoo your name to the kid’s cheek?

    #1151629
    WolfishMusings
    Participant
    #1151630

    But hey, at least I now know what “patronymic” means, and

    have no idea what you meant by “my patronymic Hebrew name.”

    #1151631
    WolfishMusings
    Participant

    my patronymic Hebrew name.

    Ploni ben ploni

    The Wolf

    #1151632
    Ex-CTLawyer
    Participant

    Wolfish………..

    Like you my name is embroidered on the bags.

    I do not have my name and address in the bags. Frankly, the bags often sit on the table just outside the minyan room, while I’m inside davening. I don’t want strangers looking in the bag and getting that info.

    I do have my business phone number and my English name on a card inside the bag.

    #1151633
    WolfishMusings
    Participant

    I do have my business phone number

    That’s fine. As long as there is *some* way for someone to get a hold of you and say “Hey, did you lose this…?”

    The Wolf

    #1151634
    WolfishMusings
    Participant

    I was at the mall last week, and they were announcing on the speakers that would the parents of some doofus come to customer service.

    And I’m like, why not just tattoo your name to the kid’s cheek?

    The difference is that the doofus himself can tell the mall security who his/her parents are. Tefillin bags, on the other hand, cannot.

    The Wolf

    #1151635
    Ex-CTLawyer
    Participant

    Wolf…………

    I’m not foolish, Talis and Tefillin are not cheap items. They also may have sentimental attachments.

    Many years ago when I lived in another city, I used to leave my weekday Talis and Tefillin bags on my seat in the minyan room at shul. Many seats had brass name plates for those who had purchased them. Those without nameplates and guests sat in seats without the brass tags.

    I was late to minyan one morning because there was a car accident blocking the road. I entered and saw an unknown elderly man going through my bags.

    Two days later he showed up at my home schnorring for some bogus charity. He wouldn’t leave my wife alone (I was not home). She called him out saying the charity was bogus, as there’d been a notice in the shul bulletin about it. He wouldn’t take no for an answer or leave, she had to call the police to remove him from our property. Ever since then I don’t put my home address and/or number where unknown people can find them.

    #1151636
    feivel
    Participant

    I’m disappointed in your response to papa, wolf.

    Not at all your usual style.

    There were a number of obvious flaws in popas account which you failed to address.

    Among them:

    1. How did popa determine the child was a doofus. He never even observed the child. He merely heard a brief, un embellished announcement.

    2. Tattooing a child’s cheek is extremely impractical, probably impossible to find someone to illegally perform the procedure. It would also be a clear marker to police and nosy others that the parents performed an illegal act. Risky indeed!

    3. Who says the child was lost in the first place. Maybe they were calling the parents because he was caught shoplifting.

    There’s lots more, but I’ve written enough to solidify my contention that you were grossly inadequate in addressing popas point.

    #1151637
    popa_bar_abba
    Participant

    Two days later he showed up at my home schnorring for some bogus charity. He wouldn’t leave my wife alone (I was not home). She called him out saying the charity was bogus, as there’d been a notice in the shul bulletin about it. He wouldn’t take no for an answer or leave, she had to call the police to remove him from our property. Ever since then I don’t put my home address and/or number where unknown people can find them.

    How do you know it was the same guy? Also, what would be the connection between seeing your name on tefilin bag and coming to your house? Your name was on the brass tack anyway.

    #1151638
    Sam2
    Participant

    Because everyone has read the famous Paysach Krohn story and will worry that their Tefillin will get sent to the wrong state if they put their address in it.

    #1151639
    WolfishMusings
    Participant

    Because everyone has read the famous Paysach Krohn story and will worry that their Tefillin will get sent to the wrong state if they put their address in it.

    I guess it’s not as famous as you would think. Can you please summarize?

    Thank you.

    The Wolf

    #1151640
    Ex-CTLawyer
    Participant

    Popa,

    I saw him going through my bag and then the video footage from our security camera at our front door. I was able to determine it was the same man.

    People finding my name don’t find it that easy to find my home address. Most searches will bring up my office address. My home is owned and listed in an LLC name.

    My name on the brass nameplate is my Hebrew Name xxxx ben xxxx.

    #1151641
    tefillin rabbi
    Participant
    #1151642
    Sam2
    Participant

    Wolf: Confusion between Brooklyn and Brookline, Mass.

    #1151643
    147
    Participant

    Why Don’t People Put Their Names/Addresses In Their Tallis/Tefillin Bags? I guess I am not part of the human race nor part of “people”, since I have had my Business card in my Tefillin bag for decades already; This in addition to keeping a pocket mirror in my Tefillin bag.

    #1151644
    Participant

    People finding my name don’t find it that easy to find my home address. Most searches will bring up my office address. My home is owned and listed in an LLC name.

    Does CT require home addresses to get on a ballot?

    #1151645
    Ex-CTLawyer
    Participant

    You need a street address to register to vote. However, when I ran for office my campaign committee used a PO Box.

    My street address for voting is an old Victorian house in my district with my Law offices on the main floor and rental units above.

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