'Tis The Season For This Problem
Scenario:
Your office has just scheduled a Christmas party on a Friday in December at a nearby upscale non-kosher restaurant during working hours and it is assumed all will attend. A collection of funds is taken up beforehand to cover the cost of the meal as well as a going-away present for a departing employee.
Question:
What do you do?
a. Go and wear a baseball cap over your yarmulke.
b. Go with your yarmulke on.
c. Tell your co-workers that you are uncomfortable attending, but contribute your share.
d. Contribute your share and call in sick on the day of the event.
7 Comments:
Quit your job and move to Israel--
--Jameel
My advice? Contribute and offer to cover the office. Plus Friday, dude, you're going to run into Shabbos.
Bob: I am tending to think this might be the right way to go.
PT: Somehow I knew this is what Jameel as well as my friend Yitz's view would be.
As for Friday - yes, another reason for a day off ;)
I would say contribute to the gift but skip the lunch. I personally have gone to too many of these lunchs and have decided I am now done.
D-O-N-E.
My last job had a friday Christmas party and the doctors gave out the bonus checks by hand at the luncheon. No show, no check. So I went and had a diet Pepsi.
There are a lot of things I would do for $200. I also have a collection of Angel christmas tree ornaments, that were from the door prizes, that my kids are still trying to figure out.
Good luck, remember, whatever you do, you have to do again next year.
Mrs. Balabusta: Yes...it is the great joy of revisiting these issues year after year. I would argue that it makes it a tad more difficult for a man who is visibly observant.
With that said...I too would like to be done with this issue and plan not to attend.
Shalom ASJ-
I think that to go "looking Jewish" might be a halachic issue of Ma'aris Ayin.
But in any case if they know you're Jewish and it's a decent workplace, they shouldn't be too offended. It would definitely be good derech eretz to chip in :-). Everyone is right that low-key is surely the best way to "excuse yourself" :-)
Nice to see you back
My husband just didn't go, sat at his desk and worked. They respected him for being true (and truthful) to his belief. THIS was a Kiddush HaShem.
If one compromises in any way, one loses the respect of the non-Jew. Know this is a test.
In such a situation, you are being given a chance to fulfill the mitzvah of Al Kiddush HaShem (that is easy to do). There should be no confusion al ha daas!
Give to the gift, forgo the lunch completely.
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