Quai James Does Teshuva At Jewish Soup Kitchen
Quai James is setting an example for how to move on after making a mistake. The 25-year-old from Yonkers who posted a viral video mocking and berating a young Hasidic boy, along with a subsequent, equally viral apology, spent some time volunteering at Masbia, a Jewish soup kitchen.
Five hundred people lined up to collect emergency food packages.
“I myself reported the original clip to Twitter,” said Alexander Rapaport, Masbia executive director. “But I have something to learn from Quai, and that is how to sincerely apologize. I am really humbled by him.
There is a Jewish concept of ‘teshuva” that means repentance, we hope everyday to get to a level of true teshuva and how to full heartedly take back something we said or did. I have something to learn from Quai. How to sincerely apologize and take it back to an even better place than it was before.”
James said he was also learning a lot by saying sorry and giving back.
“I had a wonderful experience today and would not mind helping out other places,” he said.
Today I’m In Bk Giving A Helping Hand To The Masbia Soup Kitchen ???? @Eats4U Got About 70 people lined up outside so far ? pic.twitter.com/yUTATcF8mm
— Quai James (@quaijames) May 17, 2018
Shira Feder is a writer at the Forward. You can reach her at [email protected]
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse..
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO