Reply To: Some notes about what it means to be truly poor…

Besalel: Unfortunately, my parents are not much better off than I am at the moment. They help out whenever they can, but are themselves doing everything they can just to stay afloat. They’ve had a major setback this past year, and so their ability to help us has plummeted even further than usual.

My inlaws, on the other hand, are the types of people that simply do not care to offer assistance. They have a very “not living in my house, not my problem” approach to our situation. Which is sad, since my m.i.l. at least is very much in a position to help, yet chooses not to.

Chassidishe Gatesheader: I’m glad to hear that you managed to extricate yourself from a similar situation. I hope that’s me in another year or so. My issue here is that one set of parents lives too far away from my job to live there–and can’t support us, besides–while the other set simply won’t take us.

The Best Bubby: your words warm me, and I thank you for your kindness. Please daven for Yehuda Aryeh ben Chana Toyba. Perhaps your tefillos will rise higher than mine.

Oomis: I’ve long enjoyed reading your posts here, and I thank you for expressing genuine caring and kindness. I hope there’ll be a happy update soon in my future, and I’ll be sure to post again if there is.

Syag L’Chachma: I understand how you feel, and I respect your opinion. Perhaps I am misjudging people for their actions, and of course, I have no way of knowing what in their own lives may be affecting their responses to me, BUT, I just find it remarkably difficult to be dan l’kaf zechus of people who literally humiliate me in the open street. It’s one thing to attack someone who’s posting via the anonymity of the internet–as people have aptly demonstrated in this very thread–but I cannot wrap my mind around being that heartless to a person’s face.