Written by Yosef Michael on January 21, 2025.

The first time I ever entered a synagogue was through a friend of a friend whom I will call J. The first Shabbat, J introduced me to several men who welcomed my presence.
 
The fact that J had never served in the military became evident to me when he pointed out a former Israeli Special Forces soldier who had served in combat and had been under fire and killed the enemy.
 
I was shocked to hear J say to the former Israeli soldier from across the room when J called the man’s name and said, “Get bind him! He’s a badass former Israeli soldier!”
 
The man walked over and stared at J, who had spoken stupidly. I asked J, “Why do you want to get behind him?” His face froze as he considered the implications of my question. The former soldier continued staring at J with a look of disgust.
 
I told J, “I have never been in combat on a military battlefield, but if I served with this man, I would want to be brave like him and stand shoulder to shoulder with him, not hide behind him so he could protect me!”
 
I entered the following Shabbat, and the rabbi, who had been an Israeli soldier before becoming religious, eventually became a rabbi. He looked me in the eyes and said, “Yosef, you better wish me a Shabbat shalom otherwise, I will knock you on your ass!”
 
I backed up and stared at him, paused for one or two seconds, nodded my head forward, and said, “Shabbat Shalom.” The rabbi looked at me for about one second and returned to complete his tasks before the minor confrontation.
 
I felt comfortable saying Shabbat Shalom because I knew he was showing me respect by confronting me. He wanted me to respect him, and I do.
 
J didn’t know that in combat, the ones who say things like, “Get be him!” are the enemy soldiers who don’t want to face a badass soldier. They prefer to get behind him to try to kill him rather than facing a badass soldier from the front, and he kills them.
 
Sure, men are crazy, but men are needed to continue repopulating the world, so women, please have mercy on us!