Yiddishe Geography
by Yeshiva Guy
Do you know how to play? It really is a great game. All FFB’s know how to play from birth. And the BTs that I know fall in love with the game as soon as they find out about it.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, Jewish Geography is the Yiddishe version of the Six Degrees (a.k.a. Human Web) concept put into play. Urban Web defines it as:
“When two or more Jews get together and discuss who knows who’s Jewish friends and relatives from where.”
Instead of simply subscribing to the idea, we actually use it to discover mutual acquaintances. Of course, the deeper meaning behind it is that we are all Am Echad, so each question that we ask in attempt to discover mutual shaiychusin is really a kiyum of achdus. Gevalt. 
Anyway, here are two real world examples of Jewish Geography:
The downside to Jewish Geography – BT’s can’t blend in. “Oh, you’re from city X? Which high school did you go to?”
BT must either lie (which might be okay if he’ll be embarrassed to talk about his past)
or, he needs to tell the questioner, whom he’s known for all of two minutes “I went to public school, I became frum later”
It’s problem for which there is no solution. It’s not fair to rob the FFB’s of their six degree ritual just to spare the occaisional BT some uneasiness.
I’m with you. I k’seder get
“So where did you learn”?-
“I didn’t. I only recently became frum”.
Yeah. Stinks for BTs…but then again, many are not that embarrassed about their past. With good reason- they are proud of how far they’ve come.
Right – and as I mentioned earlier, the few that really really just want to “blend in” have gotten a psak to lie.
It sounds strange, but embarrassment is likened to murder.
I know a guy from ***** who became frum in college, who made a point of getting to know the rosh yeshiva of yeshiva ****** in his hometown of ******, just so he can tell people playing the geography game that he went to that school and knows that RY – and if anyone happens to know the RY, he’ll back ‘em up.
So … BT’s have to make up elaborate lies involving other people across the country … to prevent someone else from embarrassing them?
Maybe that’s like women having to cover up every inch of their body … to prevent men from having certain thoughts that are assur?
Maybe we should also put all innocent people in jails to prevent criminals from preying on them?
I don’t think this is a “system is broken sort of thing”.
Just a personal preference on BTs side as to whether or not they are comfortable playing a game…
Maybe they’ve come far, but you still will never introduce them to your sister! Or your cousin.
No comment.
Personally, I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a problem with BTs. To be honest, you usually know it, before asking the question. And if you don’t, then you could still play Jewish Geography! You might know the Orthodox Rabbi from their city, or one of their teachers, or a frum family they hang out by….I don’t think they’re beyond playing. I talk to not-frum Jews and manage to find connections!
As far as the elaborate lies, that’s a shame…Why try to erase 20-30 years of your life? They made you who you are, even if you don’t want to advertise every indiscretion in your past. None of us do.
SIS is right. BTs are usually identified before the game begins…and anyway, there is always someone they/you know in common. Almost always.