Ben Yehuda on Motzei Shabbat...

Well it wasn't motzei shabbos. (we're not allowed to be there then.) It was friday afternoon, and this was my 1st visit to the infamous 'Ben Yehuda street.'

It took me all of 2 glances up and down the street to realize this place was waaay overrated, and not a place I wanted to hang out. It looked like a market place. Like one of those town squares in all those olden day movies, where the villigers come to hang out and have a good time.

 Only, these weren't villagers. They were Frum teenagers, mostly Americans, Yeshiva boys, and seminary girls, all hanging out and having a good time.

It would have been one thing if there were little groups of boys and girls, seperate from eachother. But they had to mingle. I saw them holding hands, hugging, girls were screaching when they saw their friends (cuz they havnt seen eachother for one whole week.)

I hate bluefringe. But sadly, this was exactly as their song, 'flippin out', described it. And it made me sad.

I sat at a table with my friends, wishing I was miles away from this place. Behind me, there were 2 guys sitting together. (yeshivish guys.) One was on his phone, he sounded upset, and his closing line in the conversation was, 'this time I'm hanging up on you first!'. And he slammed down the phone. (I sadly assumed he was talking to his girlfriend.)

I looked at my friend, and sort of laughed. I pitied him, for his lifestyle, for the choices he made.

A girl walked over to their table, said hi to one of the guys, seemed happy to see him. She openedher arms wide, for a hug, and he seemed kind of hesitant. 'Aren't you like, shomer?' he asked her. 'Oh no, that was a long time ago, and only for a day.' she answered him. And they gave eachother a big hug.

I looked at my friend with a sad look on my face. I told her what I thought. I think it's one thing if it's a girlfriend-boyfriend relationship. According to the world, you're not worth much if you don't have one. But at least thats a relationship that G-d intended there to be. That a boy and girl should have feelings for eachother, and want to touch, thats natural. It makes sense.

But the whole concept now of, 'guy friends, female friends', is so sad, and wrong. You're taking a holy sacred relationship, that G-d intended for men and women, and turning into a 'mwa mwa' type of relationship. I see my friends, and I hug them. I'm happy to see them. But if all of a sudden guys are equal to your female friends, if they also get a hug every time you see them, then what will be when you have a real boyfriend, a real reltionship with a guy, like G-d intended? It will be down the grabage, thats where.

The guys behind me heard what I was saying, and they didnt look too pleased at being told off. They looked like they might try to argue my point, but I just got up and walked away. (I dont like when people try to tell me I'm wrong, plus, I wasn't interested in talking to the subject of my displeasure.)

So that was my visit to Ben Yehuda street. I've been there one time since then, but only cuz my friend dragged me along with her. It's not a place I want to be seen, or associated with.

Theres a big picture of the Rebbe which hangs on Ben Yehuda street, and overlooks all that is going on. I find it sad that the Rebbe has to see all this shmutz.

I pray every day for Moshiach, and no more foolishness on Ben Yehuda street.