Hasidic Williamsburg, NYC
I started this exploration with a sense of curiosity and an empty stomach. The commute from Manhattan to this part of town got me hungry, I ended up starting this trip in a Kosher cafeteria to get something filling. There were so many choices. I just quickly browsed and picked something that looked and tasted like saffron rice with mixed vegetables. I finished half of my meal when I realized I was the only woman on what appeared to be a divided seating area (Woops). Gender separation is a practice in Orthodox tradition where men and women sit separately to conform to the Jewish religious laws, and to prevent them from mingling...which I did not intend to do.
The great majority of the approximately two hundred thousand American Hasidism live and work in the heart of New York City. Most of them live in three neighborhoods in Brooklyn: Williamsburg, Crown Heights and Boro Park.
“Hasidic Jews are Orthodox Jews who believe that the Torah, the five books of Moses, is the literal word of God, and by carrying out this word is what gives meaning and purpose to life. ”
Somehow I found myself lost in this world. A world virtually unknown to most people. I was an alien invading this neighborhood which is a distinct contrast to the hipster enclave that surrounds it. As I walk down the streets, I was fascinated immediately by how It felt like I was transported to a different place and time. I felt as if I wandered into a dream. All the shop signs were in "Yiddish." The Men, pale, wore long beards, sidekicks, black hats, and long dark suits, while the women wore wigs and modest, if often quite fashionable clothing. Every woman appeared to be either pregnant or baby-sitters pushing their carriages and strollers. They all looked remarkably alike, hurried along the sidewalks with downcast eyes, avoiding eye contact with an Asian civilian like myself.
This was the world I knew nothing about which was really fascinating. It was visually and musically interesting, rich with textures, and unusual customs. I was struck by the aspects of the Hasidic life that sharply differentiate it from mainstream American culture.
