RedNails19; This unfortunately is a REAL problem.
It has bothered me for a long time.
Although It bothers me when I notice little kids doing it.
I, and hopefully those who get stared down, understand that kids tend to do this. Even gentile kids are guilty of this. That is in a child’s nature unless educated by his parents to avoid it.
What really irritates me, is when I see adults from our community doing it. It is so offensive and totally goes against what the Torah stands for.
There is this one time in particular when an African American Geir Tzedek, (or maybe he was born a Yid) entered a certain shul in BP
for a minyan Maariv. The second he walked in I (as well as the entire shul) noticed him. Almost everyone was just staring at him. Some people kept looking back at him every few seconds, This one man I noticed, just stared, rather gaped at him with his mouth open literally the whole davening! I’m not sure he even said 20%
of the words he just satred standing very close to.
He continued staring at him as if by looking at him long enough, he’d figure out his name address and life story.
At first I got flushed and embarrassed for what that Geir goes through. It bothered me so much!
Then I just got mad at this Total Goilem Shoiteh for acting like a five year old child.
When Shomnei Esrei came, everyone started, I was still a little behind, but this guy was still just standing and staring.
It was disgusting! We have a Chiuv of V’ohavtah Es Hageir,
We have a Chiyuv to be Mekarev them! OK! You’re not on the level.
No problem! But to totally ALIENATE a Ger?
To make him feel self conscious? Unwelcome? An outsider to be stared at like an exhibit at the zoo? This is unacceptable, downright disgusting, and Assur.
There are other cases, where people act similarly though it’s totally not in the spirit of Ahavas Yisroel or how the Torah
intends for us to behave or be perceived by others.
So believe me, RN19; I hear you!