The Machlises need Changes

B"H

Rabbi Mordechai Machlis and his Shabbat hospitality is famous throughout Jerusalem. Thousands of people have been to his house over the past 25 years and enjoyed a Shabbat meal and a great Shabbat atmosphere. I have been to the Machlis for many years and always love to come back.

Within the past few months, however, things have changed a lot. The Machlis family decided to go on the Internet and publish their Shabbatot there. Meaning, they invite anyone to come.
ANYONE !
Unfortunately this ANYONE is obviously taken too seriously and for some time already, Christians have started to stream in. Not one, not two, but groups. The Rabbi always emphasizes the Shabbat atmosphere in his house but where is the atmosphere when right across a Christian with a big cross around his neck is sitting.
Cross or not, many religious Jews have been complaining lately. We don't want Christians with crosses or certain remarks at our Shabbat table. When I go for a Shabbat meal I do intend being with Jews and not explaining myself why we don't accept J. as the Meshiach or why we now eat kosher or the meaning of Kiddush.

Last Friday night I went to the Machlises with a friend. We were placed at a table with a Christian woman brought by one of the Kotel (Western Wall) beggars. This particular beggar always ships in FEMALE tourists because he is also famous for being a pervert. So, beggar told her to sit down and plenty of food would come out of the kitchen soon. Across sat a very obvious mentally disturbed guy proclaiming that there is nothing more evil in this world than rabbis. A few minutes later, a Christian couple was also placed at our table. In the meantime the beggar told me to move over, as he wanted to sit next to the Christian woman he had brought. Guess why !
I refused and was told that I am a piece of garbage.

During the course of the meal, Rabbi Machlis usually asks people to stand up and give a small teaching. The disturbed guy got up and yelled that we should destroy all the rabbis in this world.
Rabbi Machlis apparently considered this as a great entertainment because he laughed. A few minutes later he gave an explanation to the shocked audience that this, of course, was not his opinion.

My friend was long gone by then, as she had already left as soon as the disturbed guy was screaming around at our table as well. Even the Christian couple was shocked but the "friend" of the beggar just ate, as if she hadn't eaten for two weeks. After the first course, the beggar walked out with her.

For months it hasn't been a secret that all kinds of people are showing up at the Machlis house. The Rabbi means well but many guests have to suffer through and afterwards never show up anymore. I myself hadn't been to the Machlises too many times lately.

Seminary girls were complaining that divorced Israeli guys in the late 40ies, early 50ies are bothering them. Those guys need a Shidduch and as soon as they see a young American girl they think that this is it. Money is just floating in from the rich Americans and no more suffering through the social benefit life.

The problem is that Rabbi Machlis hardly listens and we females got the feeling that he doesn't listen to women at all. When I once complained about a Christian missionary called Ryan, I was just told off that this is probably not true and I must have got the wrong impression. One or two weeks later, this particular missionary was caught in action at the Machlises and left. Not by the Rabbi but by an Italian Jew sitting nearby.

Last Erev Shabbat I got so fed up with my table that I decided to leave. It was time anyway because I was planning to go to a chassidic Tish. As soon as I got up, the yelling guy got up as well and started following me outside. I was lucky that one of the Machlis girls talked to him and this gave me time to run, hide and disappear.

Is this a religious Jewish atmosphere being called "garbage" because a pervert wants to have his pleasure and a mental guy starts following me and I have to run ? Not only run but taking another way to the chassidic Tish. Walking all the way around because the disturbed guy is on the main road and may see me.

When I left I was so upset and fed up that my Friday night was ruined. I didn't even feel like going to a Tish anymore and thought about just going to bed. However, I went to the Tish in order to get some atmosphere. And, by the way, I succeeded.

My friend told me later that on her way home, she met another woman who had also escaped. There are plenty of Jews getting fed up and if the Machlises don't set a limit to the guests they let into their house, nutcases will soon take over.

The Machlises are doing a great Mitzvah and Chesed with their hospitality but they shouldn't too much concentrate on quantities but more on qualities. And I don't want to spend my Shabbat with mental cases, perverts and people from streets and soup kitchens or too many Christians. Of course, it is the Rabbi's house and he decides who is coming but he shouldn't be surprised when the religious more and more stay away.