Panhandlers Profile

Esther posted a tasty short on Jewlicious about a couple referred to as the “Jew couple,” as their detail oriented waitress clearly noted on their bill at a restaurant.

Reminds me of my DC days when I was hanging out with a hipster Berber chick from Morocco I met at Cafe Le Trec. We never really dated, it would have been a bit of a stretch –our peoples being at war and all, and our circles comprised heavily of our respective peoples — but we were friendly, and did hang out a little.

Anyway - we were in Georgetown, grabbing a drink, during the last days of crackhead Mayor Marion Barry’s reign, and as we crossed the street, a schizophrenic homeless guy — smelling and looking something foul — asked me for change.

Normally I give nothing, but I was with a chick, so I didn’t want to reveal my stinginess, so I gave him a dime.

He was furious at the paucity of my donation.

He cursed, and finally yelled, “Shalom!!!”

I realized that if I can be outed in a multi-cutural setting by the likes of this sociologist, everyone - absolutely everyone - knows what I am. They just don’t all scream at me in Hebrew.

It’s easier to date one’s own, where you don’t have to make modest pretenses that you aren’t a cheap Jew. And that is, as you can see, the most I am willing to make.

Thought about it yesterday when I was harassed by a panhandler on my subway ride home.

Made me nostalgic. For more innocent, younger days, and Hizzoner, Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

There were less homeless people then to violate my civil liberties.