With Pesach around the corner - now is the time to start catching bagels.
As
you may have read last week, “Being Bageled” is a phrase that has
recently developed in the Jewish world. It’s basically when a person
who is not identifiable as being Jewish says something to you so that
you know that they too are Jewish. Examples might be: someone wishes
you Shabbat Shalom, throws in the words “gelt,” “shpiel,” or “oy vey,”
asks you where’s the kosher meat section in Acme etc.
So how do you respond to a bagel?
Here are some thoughts:
1.
Appreciate that being bageled is hashgachah pratis in action. The
Almighty is placing this person in your life and the question now is
how we will choose to respond. Will we acknowledge the opportunity and
grab the moment or just walk away and say . . . I guess next time?!
2. The key is to do something . . .
3. You might want to say: “I guess that makes you Jewish too!” and then
ask them about themselves – where they live, what they do, how often
they come here, what’s their name etc?
4. You might want to follow up on the specific thing they mentioned
e.g. if they wish you a Shabbat Shalom, you might want first wish them
a Shabbat Shalom and then ask them what they do on Shabbat, do they go
to shul, where etc. Or you might say “Don’t you just love Shabbat?” and
get into a meaningful conversation about the beauty and value you each
see in Shabbos.
5. The ikar is to say pretty much anything which will result in a conversation.
6. Try to get their details so you can follow up. The conversation is
also a means to developing enough of a relationship that you can ask to
stay in touch. You can do this by:
(i) Offering your card (or details) and asking them for their telephone number or e-mail address, or
(ii) Inviting them for Shabbos and then asking for their details, or
(iii) Giving them an aish.com wallcam card and asking them for their details so you ca see what they think about the sight.
These
are just some thoughts. The essence is to say something, start
“chatting,” let them know that you also feel you have something in
common and use this conversation as a way of staying in touch.
. . . you never know . . . being bageled can lead to more than just eating bagels! Hatzlachah!
Anybody out there have a good bagel story or some good insights on the
bagel phenomenon? Please share it with us at smarkowitz@projectinspire.com
