Reply To: Keeping in touch with old friends, who are Non Jewish

I really appreciate ZachKessin’s Post. Insightful, intelligent and sensitive.

For pashcha, also thanks. However, I do have many many MANY friends in the community. I am well known and loved by so many, k’nha. Thank G-d. But its not the same as having someone who had a similar upbringing and past as yourself, and whom you shared growing up with.

The point is that although, I am integrated well into my charedi neighborhood I miss /need that connection I had with that particular friend. Since I have little contact with anything from my “past world” I feel she is a little bit from that, and now, presently, even beyond that, I appreciate the sharing and insights from life today as it is.

She has never tried to sway my perceptions on religion or G-d. I have shared beautiful things explaining Yomin TOvim and hashkafa, and she always responds with interest and positively.( just for interests sake)

She is respectful not to share with me things that I would not feel comfortable with.I have not had any negative expereinces in communicating with her in the past 4 years since we began again.

Today she works in a respectable position of helping others, (without naming it) involving altruism and giving. In other words, she is a good person according to society’s standards.

The point and bottom line is the question “am I allowed to keep up with a non jew?”, sometimes my husband questions my actions and displays his disapproval of carrying on the relationship.