Israeli wearing tefillin on NZ ferry causes panic

Jerusalem Post ^ | 12-12-10

[SJackson]

An Israeli tourist visiting New Zealand caused a minor panic on a New Zealand ferry on Sunday after the captain reported to police that a passenger was carrying a "suspicious article," NZTV reported.

Some media in New Zealand even reported a hostage situation aboard the ferry, even though the passenger was cooperative with police, according to the report.

The man was described as wearing what appeared to be "boxes" with "wires taped" to his body. "One individuals had two boxes attached, one box taped to his leg and one box seemingly taped to his forehead," a transportation services spokesman was quoted as saying in the report.

Jewish websites described the man as having worn his tefillin (phylacteries) on the morning ferry voyage.

He was stopped by police at the ferry's destination after it finished crossing the Cook Strait and was released by the police without being charged

[MrB]

I assume that would be a “Kosher Ham”?

[blam]

"As one intimately familiar with the Orthodox Jewish practice of donning tefillin (phylacteries) during morning prayers, I absolutely agree with your comment."

Thank you.

I'm very educated and a world traveller but have never heard of this procedure. It is ignorance on my part but does not make anyone an idiot.

It is the bad manners and the immediate rough discourse that I found troubling with TexasGreg's comment, frankly, very unTexan like.

[lbryce]

I appreciate your reply. I don't mean to patronize you but I believe that even the term ignorance is too harsh a term under the circumstances.

That you have never been exposed to to the sort of ritual that is none-too-widely practiced does not make someone ignorant.

[lbryce]

As someone having worn tefillin (phylacteries) ever single day until in my early 20's, I am quite aware of its religious significance. Nevertheless, your comment that Jesus wore these was incredibly fascinating to me, that yes, indeed, he did wear them during part of his life, a fact that had never occurred to me. I am most intrigued by the life of Jesus as someone of great historical significance.

[TexasGreg]

Idiots? Sorry I would have been right there with them. I have Jewish friends, I have lived around Jews all my life and this is new to me. If I saw someone wrapped in electrical tape with little boxes attached to them I think I would vacate the premises. If I was on a ferry I would be seriously worried.

Look up Hasidic Judaism and learn something about the practices of those in Orthodox Judaism. Visit New York (where you'll find a lot of them) and observe their practices. Travel to Israel and watch what they do on the airplane for morning prayers heading to and from there. Visit the Western Wall and observe what they're wearing and how they prepare for prayer.

Even after studying Judaism (from a distance, for I'm Christian) and even though I knew what it was when I saw it happening, it still struck me as "strange" when I first saw it on an airplane on my first flight to Israel a number of years ago. It didn't frighten me, nor did I have an over-the-top reaction, however.

My whole point is that, rather than leaping to a judgement about it, one should actually find out what it is, study it, learn about what other people do and why they do it. As someone else on this thread wrote, the guy wasn't pulling out a rug and kneeling in prayer toward Mecca -- he was gearing up to pray as MANY Orthodox Jews pray. Unusual? For that context (as for mine), yes. But, it's not something that should occasion the kind of public reaction reported in the article.

[Ditter]

I am guessing you learned about this (strange) practice a number of years ago, before people started blowing themselves up along with whoever was nearby. I have been to NY but not in 20+ years, I never saw it even in the Hasidic neighborhoods we visited. I am aware of the practice now so I won't be alarmed if I see it again.

[pepperdog]

Yes, and backpacks too. We live in dangerous times, to pretend differently is rather naive. I try to be aware of where I am and what others around me are doing at all times, it’s only smart. I don’t go around with bulletproof vests or anything, but I am cautious, observant and I’ll certainly move away if I see something or someone suspicious. If that offends you I’d say that’s your problem, not mine.

[Jewbacca]

I am not remotely offended, just surprised at the lack of common sense.

I assumed Freepers: (1) were more knowledgable regarding religion and (2) had some basic ideas regarding military and terrorsist tactics.

Most notably, why use a small and immensily prominent box on the head (which couldn’t hold much of a charge) when a backback could hold a much bigger charge, have all sorts of nails in it, and not be remotely attention-getting.

I suppose my incredulty is from dealing with actual terrorists and military training.

[TexasGreg]

The first time I went to Israel was in 2004. That was not the first time I saw it — in graduate school I saw the Rabbis vested this way then i visited an Orthodox Synagogue. However, in 2004 that was the first time I saw it on an airplane.

The great thing about educating oneself about such things is that then one doesn’t react idiotically when one encounters strange practices. I know what Jewish religious practices look like I know what Muslim religious practices look like. They are very different.

each time I fly I usually cross myself and the aircraft on take off. The last time I flew the lady seated across from me thanked me for it. Some one who was uneducated on such matters might have been frightened by my making such a tiny hand motion over my head/heart and out in front of me, I suppose. But it would be their ignorance fueling their fear.

[Lee'sGhost]

I admit to being totally ignorant of tefillin until reading this story...but that photo is funny as hell.

[6ppc]

I have Jewish friends, have attended bar mitzvahs and other functions, spent lots of time in their company and I’ve never heard of it.

[naturalized]

Well, considering that (as I believe) He wrote what was in them, it should not cause us any great wonder that He took offense when his brethren tried to outdo one another by making theirs wider.

[Ditter]

Greg, you have called me an idiot again. Can’t you just say I am uninformed?

[blam]

"Greg, you have called me an idiot again. Can’t you just say I am uninformed?"

Ditter, you are a Texas lady. TexasGreg is a jerk.

[Rebelbase]

Smug, arrogant academic types piss me off.

[Ditter]

Thank you blam and Merry Christmas.

[Ditter]

BTW have you ever heard of tefillin? I have heard of turduckin but not tefillin. Do you suppose TexasGreg has ever heard of turduckin?

[TexasGreg]

I’m very sorry that you took my most recent response to you as me calling you an “idiot.” I didn’t realize that this was what I was doing, and I’m very sorry that you perceived this in my post.

Given the negative responses from several here, including the severe name calling now being directed my way on the thread and in the threats I am receiving in private e-mails, I’m going to bow out of this discussion.

[Ditter]

I am in a very good mood today so I am not in the least upset with you. It would take more than calling me an idiot to upset me. But before you go without Googling tell me do you know what turduckin is?

[TexasGreg]

Sure. Turduckin is a turkey stuffed with a duck which, itself, is stuffed with a chicken. I don’t think any of them have internal bones.

I remember John Maddon talking about ‘em again and again on Sunday Night Football. I’ve never had one, though.