It’s a sensitive time in Israel – so much so that an Arab student at an Israeli cooking school was given a “permission note” to lug around a set of cooking knives on public transportation.
Hussein Shakra, an Israeli Arab who attends a cooking school in the center of the country, took in good humor the shock some of his fellow students displayed at the notion of his carrying the knives in public – and received hundreds of Likes for his story when he posted it on Facebook.
“So I started pastry school this week (yes, exciting!),” wrote Shaka. “On the first day they handed us each a set of knives that we’re supposed to take to and from school. Panic broke out in the classroom.
“How will they let me on the train with these knives!??,’ one Jewish girl asked,” continued Shakra. “I turned around and said: ‘You’re the one who’s worried? What am I gonna do!? (yup, I’m the only Arab in the class).”
Not to worry, school administrators told him; they had already prepared a “permission note” to show police and security officials in the event he was stopped. “’To whom it may concern: this is to certify that Hussein Shakra is studying in our pastry school … and must carry around this set of knives in a closed case,’” read the note.
“So yes, I’m certified to walk around with knives. Let’s just hope they won’t shoot first, ask questions later,” he added.
Leave a Reply