Category Archives: Hasidim

Why Are Hasidim So Happy?

Popular images of Hasidim show them dancing. They have a reputation for happiness. Why are Hasidim so happy when compared with other types of Jews? Because they are the most insular. They are the least interested in the goyim. The … Continue reading

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All in-groups hold varying degrees of hostility for out-groups

Chaim Amalek: “My sense is that orthodox Hasidic Jews are more hostile to mainstream WASPS than mainstream WASPS are towards orthodox Hasidic Jews.” Luke Ford: “Yes, but only because Hasidic Jews have more in-group solidarity. Not because of anything else.” … Continue reading

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The Pious Ones: The World of Hasidim and Their Battles with America

In almost all of the battles described in this book, the Hasidim won. Its amazing what you can do when you combine high IQ, ethnic solidarity and high motivation. Chaim Amalek: “They won. But they won against a national culture … Continue reading

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The Parallel Universe Of The Hasidic Jew

New York Times journalist Joseph Berger writes in his book The Pious Ones: The World of Hasidim and Their Battles with America: In the secular realm, the laws of the Russian or Polish state persecuted Jews and barred them from … Continue reading

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The New Yorker Exposes Hasidic Judaism

This article by Rachel Aviv makes Jews look bad. It embodies many of the themes of anti-Semites such as perversion, dishonesty and corruption. Here’s the opening sentence: “Sam Kellner’s reputation in the Hasidic community of Borough Park, Brooklyn, began to … Continue reading

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The Rebbe Vs The Organized Jewish Community

I sometimes think, and here I must gulp before I can summon the courage to express my shameful thought, and I am sure I must be wrong here and I should not even say this out loud, but between you … Continue reading

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Jews, Asians, Goyim & Schvartzes

Williamsburg. A Satmar drives up to a ba’al teshuva baker with his delivery truck filled with baked goods and tells the man, “Get your schvartze to unload my truck.” The ba’al teshuva took great offense at the term “schvartze”, pointing … Continue reading

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Is Call of the Shofar Compatible With Judaism?

Shmuel Pollen, a resident of Morristown who participated in and even led “Call of the Shofar” workshops, reveals what shook him out of the “influence.” So why the radical change of heart? It occurred this past Shabbos, when I was … Continue reading

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If You Own A Dance Club, Should You Put A Mezuzah On The Door?

Rob Abner blogs: “Another time a Hasidic Jew came into the club and asked me if there was a private room. I told him there were private rooms for lap dances. He said, no, he needed a private room to … Continue reading

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Rabbis Talk Differently To Other Rabbis

In his fourth lecture on Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin, history professor Marc B. Shapiro says: Wikipedia has everything you need. In the rabbinic world, you don’t have book reviews [like what Rav Zevin did in Sofrim U’Sefarim]. It’s not part … Continue reading

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