Strange Tales of Hassidic Jews

the "sales pitch" is convincing people like me (ie, less crazy Jews) that I'm betraying my cultural traditions by shaking hands with unmarried women, etc. Seriously, the proseletyzing is so horribly sanctimonious and condescending, its part of why I have such a visceral negative reaction.

Right, that's what I was getting at. My mum pointed to some Hassidim when I was a kid and said "They don't consider us real jews, to them we're no better than if we went to church". !!!

OK, a religious minority.

I'm a Jew myself.

you're not a Hasidic Jew. I suppose it would be like a Catholic discussing the strange ways of Presbyterians.

ah whatever. I think this thread is more "strange religous groups and their strange ways" rather than "HURRR HURRR HURRR".

Otherwise, I guess it's a bit like the Amish -- just a community of people who choose to isolate themselves somewhat and lead a radically differnet lifestyle, and I'm not against that in itself.

they're interesting, though, in that they don't go off and live in isolated rural communities but actively live in Babylon cheek by jowl with the infidel.

anyway, i've been approached several times by lubavichers -- maybe i look jewish?!?

I will say, however, that I never feel as cool and street as when I'm dealing with Hassidic Jews, so I'm sure there's a good deal of condescension on my part as well.

anyway, i'm not really pissed off about, live and let live, they pretty much never talk to me so i have no reason to be upset, and i could care less if they think i'm a "real jew" or not.

an article about kiryas joel, NY

A pro of the Hassidic community: it is good for my mom, who suffers from severe bipolar disorder and they are obligated to take care of her, basically. I think the incredibly strict structure is good for her as well, as irritating as I find it.

Hasids came to my house twice as a teenager. One time my mom answered the door and they recoiled in shock when she almost touched them welcoming them into our house, saying they couldn't touch her because she was "unclean". My mom was livid.

The Hassids also rallied heavily against any municipal Christmas displays, insisting that Jewish symbols be given equal time. This amounted to a gaudy, completely unnecessary giant electrical menorah going up on the main street in town. I assume it was modeled on the giant electrical menorah that the Hassidic Rabbi had attached to the top of his station wagon. All this did was exacerbate tensions between the Jewish and Christian communities, and the Jewish and Hassidic communities (most of the Reform congregation are not big on ostentatious public displays of either Judaism OR Christianity).

this is just the tip of the iceberg.

I guess you didn't see the episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm where this custom was reviewed.

x-post

Haha, really? What season was that in?

"you are a messenger from OUR GOD. You are carrying a DELIVERY that was meant for US!".

I doubt we had a more aggressive Hassidic rabbi than Rebbe Schneerson. fuck that megalomaniac.

Season Four, I think it was the 2nd or 3rd last episode. Gina Gershon played a Hassidic Jew who wasn't very observant, shall we say. Larry wanted to sleep with her and cash in on his 10th anniversary present.

he is quite funny. I got the impression his initial numerology pitch is what they teach you on page one of "Kabbalah for Tards".

but, not all are so isolationist, the lubavichers especially, although the reason they arent is basically just so they can get more diverse and scattered fallen jews into the fold.

on another note, that day in June must have been Lag B'omer. it's a day for being out in the fields havin fun, traditionally bows and arrows, but i cant remember why quite.

when israeli politicos visit NYC they protest at their hotels!

I was working in Park Slope a couple months ago and a this Lubavicher, who tried to convince to put on t'fillin ("you don't have to be religious to wear t'fillin!"), gave me the Lubavicher newsletter "for Jews everywhere". There was an article based on an extended metaphor of life as a journey and religion being "what you pack" but the set-up took forever and read like a ridiculously broad parody of stereotypical Jewish neurosis--"when you're packing for a trip, it's hard to know what to bring? Should I bring this suit or that suit? Do I need boot and shoes? Will I be attending formal and informal events? WHAT IF IT RAINS?!" etc

yup. they're also the hasidics that people are most likely to encounter in williamsburg (b/c that's where they live -- there and upstate in kiryas joel, NY). they are pretty much the mortal enemies of the lubavichers (who live in crown heights). dunno whether the satmars proselytize as much as the lubavichers, or if they don't proselytize at all.

Recently, one of our neighbors said that he didn't want to rent to 2 black dudes even though they passed a credit check, etc.

i knew it was true!

but shvartzers make LOUSY landlords!

hahahahahahahaha

Today I got approached by one of those Chabad sukkot guys. I was kind of rushing to class and really not trying to be a dick or anything, but he was persistent, and I kept saying, "Sorry, I'm running late," and the guy goes, "But don't you want to just hold it? Just hold it!"