Several years ago my girlfriend (who is blonde and speaks with an English accent) worked in the ladies wear department of a large department store. There were 2 non-frum Jewish women who were very well known there as they shopped there several times a week. They always bought a lot of items and never tried them on, then returned them several days later. They always would pull out the bottom item from a stack of folded garments, which meant the staff had a lot of extra work just straightening out the neatly folded items. One day, these women were looking at fancy sweaters and had unfolded nearly the entire display. My friend overheard part of their conversation where one said to the other “why don’t you ask the saleslady?” The other replied ” Vos vais zee? Zee is a shtick fleish mit eigen.” Absolutely furious, my friend went up to them and very sweetly said “Is there something I can help you with? Are you perhaps looking for something for a special simcha like a Bar Mitzvah?” Both of these women turned bright red and began hemming and hawing and quickly left the department. PS: they weren’t seen in that department for several months. So, we also must be very careful about what we say because you never know who can hear you.
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