Strange and somewhat scary phone call
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion Archive: Archive February 2006:
Strange and somewhat scary phone call
I answer, caller says my first name, and I say who is this?
He says, my name is Michael but that doesn't matter. What I want to know is why you're going to a church when you're Jewish.
I stupidly don't hang up, and say What makes you think I'm Jewish?
He says, your last hame is (a name which does sound Jewish), isn't it? If God made you a Jew, why are you going to a church?
At which point I did hang up. I did try to *69, but have gotten nothing but a busy signal, so Michael probably has some sort of blocking on his phone.
What I can't figure out is how this guy knows I go to a church at all. I keep my phone number listed, out of a stubborn principal, which means my name, address and phone number are in the book, but how on earth does he know I go to a church?
This is a very sore issue for me. Shortly after I was married, I was rejected for a job because, the interviewer said, "you're Jewish, and we've filled our quota". This was in 1958 or 59, when those kinds of things were not illegal and happened all the time. Having had a sheltered life and not understanding what was going on, I responded that I'm not Jewish, and though my husband's name might sound Jewish, it's really German. The interviewer responded, well, sorry, but your name sounds Jewish, and it would just make problems.
I followed this by going to the nearest library and looking up Jews and Jewish, and for the first time read "Gentlement's Agreement", an expose on anti-Semitism in the U.S., published in 1947. From there I went on to more reading about anti-Semitism, and for several years when I worked at an interfaith organization I staffed a task force on Jewish-Christian relations.
I've always been aware that my name "sounds" Jewish, and just a couple of weeks ago I had a conversation with our office manager, who is Jewish, and who had sent me a joke email that listed personal ads in a Jerusalem newspaper, and learned that she thought I was Jewish.
It doesn't bother me to be thought Jewish, because I believe it doesn't matter. I've fought against anti-Semitism and against organizations that attempt to convert Jews or think Jews should convert to Christianity for much of my adult life.
What does bother me, more and more as I think about it, is someone calling me who knows enough about me to know that I am a member of a Christian church. I checked my church's website, and it doesn't list the members, and I'm not presently chairing any committee, so that isn't it. I know I've mentioned my church here, but my real name isn't in my profile.
The only thing I can think of is that this person may have gotten a church directory, and may be calling everyone in the directory that he thinks has a Jewish name. I'm going to call my pastor and alert her to this possibility.
I am a bit scared by this.
Well, I figured out the "how". I googled my name and some issues of my church newsletter, from our website, came up - and one of them with a brief note from me giving my phone number and saying "call me" about something.
What I can't figure out is the "why".
Wow. I'd be nervous. At least you don't live alone.
Did he have an accent? Did he sound familiar? this is too weird.
Ginny, I would be freaked out and scared as well.  As for the "why," some people just have way too much time on their hands. Do you have caller ID? Is there any way to see before you answer again if it's the same caller? I'm not sure what I'd do... I hope he doesn't call back. Isn't it amazing what information about ourselves is out there! {{Hugs}}
Nope, no accent. And no, I don't have caller ID. If I don't feel like answering my phone I let it go to the answering machine, and I'm on every do not call list I can find, so I don't get a lot of unwanted calls. This one was just strange and, given my history, pushed some buttons for me.
Just some bonehead with more time on his hands than needed. Next time he calls, ask him "It's apparent that you're unemployed, why don't you GET A JOB?"
Sorry this guy called you...what a freak.
I think I would have just hung up on him. I have no patience for nonsense calls.
Ginny, talk to your pastor, if it is someone who is a member of your church perhaps your pastor can address this issue to the congregation and put the matter to rest in a public way. Maybe if this person is afraid of being recognized or called out it will put a stop to it.
If he calls again, call the police. I beleive there is also an option on your phone to block unwanted callers. It's something like *69, you dial it after the person calls you. Call your local phone company and find out how to do this. My cousin has an option on his phone that when you call his house and you are calling from a blocked source a voice recording from the phone company answers that says the person at this number does not receive calls from blocked callers, if you are calling from a cel phone please blah blah blah... I can't remember the rest. It's kind of a pain when you call him from a cel phone, but it keeps the phone solicitors away and his crazy ex wife from bugging him.
My last name is German as well and most Jewish people assume that I am Jewish as well. It actually helped me get a job a couple of times. I guess the opposite of what happend to you.
Anyway deal with this right away so you don't have to be creeped out with this guy.
(((HUGS))) It must be a scary thing for you.
Ginny, I have no advice, but can sympathize, since my maiden name, and my ex's name sound Jewish, and I have a similar bone structure to "traditional" Jewish blood. I am just liek you, I normally don't get offended, but since the caller went through such trouble to call you, I'd call the phone company AND the police, that's harassment.
Thanks, all. I did talk to my pastor last night, and we generally agreed that it was probably someone with too much time on his hands who read the church newsletters. We tend to doubt it is a member of the congregation, but will be alert. Mostly I wanted my pastor to know because I may not be the only one, and "no surprises" is always a good rule.
I checked - *69 only gives me the caller's phone number, if the caller doesn't have blocking. I can use *79 to have the caller's number go to the phone company's records, but they say only do this in life-threatening situations or for frequent harassing calls. And, I know from some of my legal secretary work, the phone company only releases the information upon a subpoena in a civil suit or a police subpoena if you can persuade the police that a crime has occurred.
Yes, I should have hung up right away, and I usually do. I was just sort of stunned by this odd question coming from nowhere.
Yes, I think it is "ethnic" or "religious" harassment, but one call doesn't rise to any legal standard of harassment.
I am feeling a lot less concerned about this, but was really creeped out for a while.
My mom had a strange call last weekend. Someone trying to get her to give them her checking account number so they could put it on some sort of national registry. When my mom told him no way. He tried to bully her by getting nasty. Of course it did not work. Anyway when my mom called the police they told her to next time to call the phone company. So you could try that if he calls again. That would be unnerving. I am glad you are feeling better about it. My sisters ex was part Iranian. I admit I wish she would change her name back. Only because of reasons like this. But of course my nephews will still have it. I am sure they will encounter they share of idiots. Better to teach them now how to handle it.
Ginny, I hope he doesn't call back! Maybe have a plan ready in case he does? That is very very odd and it would bother me also. I hope this is the end of it!
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