Ah, that explains it

 So I'm in the supermarket buying food to break the fast and at the counter is a cashier who doesn't look like he's from these parts. He has a pony tail, piercings, a hipster light beard, and tattoos. I hesitated going to his counter for a moment because his look, in this religious neighborhood, shocked me a bit. I avoid non-religious Israelis because much of the time they are aggressive and impatient. Just the other day, the one at the package pickup truck that goes to a parking lot for just 2 hours a week shouted at me because I didn't say my name loudly enough. 

But this guy was nothing like that. Quite to the contrary, he seemed refined and conscientious in his dealings with the customers. "Is this yours too?" he asked in Hebrew. He made sure the groceries between customers didn't get mixed up as they often do since Israeli supermarkets don't offer those little portable dividers, and people don't wait for one another to finish. It's a big jumble. 

But he cared that everyone bought what they wanted to and not other people's stuff. He helped with the credit card machine when it failed to read people's cards. Usually, Israelis don't care, don't help. On a good day, they shrug their shoulders rather than snap in impatience. 

I thought to myself, "See, there are some nice ones. Of course, they are few, but they exist."

When my turn came, I needed to enter a code since the purchase was above 500 NIS. And I messed it up which means he'd have to touch something on his screen to make the amount appear again on my screen. Even though this young man had been pleasant with people, I feared that I was about to get yelled it because I have had so many experiences like that here.

And then it happened. Of course, of course. He spoke to me in perfect American English, figuring out somehow that I was an English speaker even though I hadn't spoken a word, maybe because I hadn't spoken a word. He said something like "Please try again." And I did and it worked, and he said, "Have a great day."

Instantly, I sized up the situation. Why was he here in this religious neighborhood? Most likely, he's an oleh, or a child of Anglo olim. He went to religious schools, and went off the derech. 

I feel confident saying that because I have met several like that in this town. You wonder, why are they working here. It's too far a commute from non-religious areas to work in a supermarket. 

It's because their parents live here. Maybe they just got out of the army and haven't set up an apartment yet in Tel Aviv. So they live home and work in the supermarket.

Two questions: 1) Why nearly always when an employee in a store is helpful and polite is he or she an Anglo, not an Israeli. (I witnessed this once in Meah She'arim of all places. 2) How can you bring your children to this country when so many leave the religion? I poskin that nobody of child bearing age is allowed to move to Israel. What? I'm not a posek. On this topic I am.