Yiskay, I’ll ignore the implied impugning of both my veracity and my sister’s modesty. The story I related, is but one example of the lack of basic consideration one encounters in frum shopping establishments. How bad can I be expected to feel for the local grocer who refuses to accept returns for spoiled mechandise? How much pity shall I have for the clothing store that won’t exchange an item bought the previous day for a child that doesn’t fit right? Another story: This past Dec. 25th, my wife went to the local Kosher grocery to shop for Shabbat. My wife is the type of person who strikes up a conversation with virtually anyone. There is one non-Jewish cashier with whom she is rather friendly. That day this cashier was working, despite it being one of her “high holidays.” My wife said hello and wished her a happy holiday. Being a bit more comfortable around my wife, this girl told my wife that she had no holiday. The night before she was in the store until 11:00 p.m. stocking shelves, was too tired to join her family for services, and the store owner made her come to work that day since it was a Thursday and he needed her. He could care less about her holiday. Where was the basic respect for one’s employee? I have a hard time feeling sorry for someone who treats others with such callousness. The Mishne in Avot says: “Mitzvah goreret mitzvah v’aveirah goreret aveirah” Most people superficially read that mishne as some sort of accounting mechanism. To me it’s far more. I look at it as a basic social contract. Act decently towards people when they need it(mitzvah) and people, not necessarily the same people, but people will act decently toward you when you need it (goreret mitzvah). The Mishne promises us that the converse is also true.
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