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Dear Miriam,
My local coffee shop makes a large chalk-illustrated calendar every month that takes up the whole wall. This month, I was pleased to see that Rosh Hashanah is prominently listed. But the illustration is a menorah. What’s the best way to let someone know this doesn’t make sense, or should I keep my mouth shut?
Signed,
New Year New Sign
Dear Sign,
I can’t wait to find out if they’ll use a picture of a challah for Yom Kippur! But seriously, the world of ridiculous pictures and items for Jewish holidays is endless. I’ve seen menorahs dripping with honey, Shabbat candles burning on top of a tallis (prayer shawl), and Purim masks hanging on garlands with pomegranates and matzah. At least here the chalk is washable and the error isn’t permanent.
Next time you’re there, if it’s not too busy, after you order, casually mention to the barista that you’re wondering if you could share something about the calendar. Hopefully, the answer will be yes, which will give you an opportunity to say, “Thank you for including Rosh Hashanah on the calendar. I noticed the picture is actually for a different Jewish holiday. I was wondering if you might be open to changing the menorah to an apple.” Again, hopefully, this suggestion will be taken well, and someone at the shop will make the edit. And if it is busy, come back another time!
It’s hard to imagine the barista saying no to receiving feedback or being rude about it since they’re in the customer service industry, but it’s possible. If that happens, just drop it and move on. Laugh about it with your Jewish friends and don’t give it another thought. And if you’re not able to do that, you could resort to an anonymous letter or phone call, but the month will be over before you know it, and the aggravation probably isn’t worth it.
Of course, if the response is rude or God forbid antisemitic or the conversation otherwise escalates, you’ll have other choices to make. You could ask to speak to a manager, or decide not to come in next time if you see the same barista, or decide to frequent a different coffee shop. This feels like beyond a worst-case scenario, but I mention these possibilities because concerns about backlash might be a reason not to call someone’s attention to the picture in the first place. We’re living in difficult times, and being publicly Jewish right now is fraught in a way that is unfamiliar to many of us. But Rosh Hashanah was on the calendar. They’re trying to do right by the Jews. By respectfully giving them an alternative picture idea, you’re enabling them to actually do right.
Be well,
Miriam
The 8-branched Menorah is a symbol of Chanukah. The 7-branched menorah, shown here, symbolizes, among other things, the seven days of creation. Looks like the coffee shop – wittingly or unwittingly – nailed it!