Everything important in life I learned about in yeshiva – not:
… As soon as the light changed, the car cut me off from the right. I looked over as it passed and saw a distinctive large beard and black hat, front brim turned down. Apparently, this frum yid, less than two weeks after apologizing for all wrongs committed during the previous year, felt it was okay to behave in a way that was rude and potentially dangerous.
But he wasn't done. Up ahead, the road widened to two lanes. The other car pulled into the right lane and I stayed in the left, preparing to turn at the intersection. But my black-hatted friend suddenly decided that he needed to be in the left lane. How suddenly? Well, there was no time to signal- heck, there wasn't even time to make sure there wasn't another car (mine) in the space he wanted. Yes, he nearly forced me into oncoming traffic and completely ignored me laying on the horn. Probably a tsnius issue. And after all that, did he even turn at the light? Nope. He kept going straight-- while straddling the white dotted line, taking up both lanes.
I suspect he thought I was just some shiksa who he'd never see again. But I know what kind of hat he wears. I know what kind of car he drives. I know people in his community. It shouldn't be too hard to find him next year. And then I can remind him, while he's busy offering up vague apologies in order to secure his place in Haolam Habaah, of the Jewish mother and wife he could have caused serious harm to, not even two weeks after the previous Yom Kippur.
Now, of course I don't believe that this kind of behavior is reflective of all who wear black hats. But I do believe that when one chooses to publicly identify themselves as a member of a group that is grounded in Torah, they must behave in a way that shows that they take Torah seriously.…
Amazing what our rabbinic brothers don't teach in their yeshivot. Of course, God forbid you eat the wrong cheese or tie your shoes out of order …