[Dave25970]

I have not been able to find out much information on Hasidic Jews. They seem to be a small but visible group in the New York area. I am particularly interested in their clothes and the meaning and origin of them (some wear black felt hats, others hats with fur on them- any significance, or personal preference?) and what sets them apart from more mainstream reformed Jews. Some of their traditions appear to derive from Leviticus, such as kosher food, but others, such as the long black clothing, seem to have evoloved over time. Can anyone share insigts into this seemingly insular culture?

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Name : Dave25970, Gender : M, Age : 25, City : Pomona, State : NY, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, 

[ShirleyAvery]

I am a Reform Jew. Some of the Chassidic practices, like keeping kosher are Jewish laws from the Torah. Although men are also required to keep their heads covered, the types of hats you describe, plus long black clothing is just a custom. It is not prescribed by Jewish law. Chassidic and other Orthodox Jews are far removed from the REform. Orthodox Jews believe that the Torah is the divine word of God as dictated to Moses. Reform Jews and most Conservative Jews believe the Torah is a sacred document written by scholarly men over time, but inspired by God. Still there are few fundamentalist Jews since Hebrew text is often open to interpretation. Just Curious

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Name : ShirleyAvery, Gender : F, Disability : none, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 52, City : st. louis, State : MO, Country : United States, Occupation : writer, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Dot]

The Hassidim’s wardrobe choices have more to do with their Eastern European background than anything in Jewish law. Just as the fez that is de rigueur at Sephardic Moroccan weddings is not a Jewish thing per se. The tribes spread out all over the world and each community in turn took on the cultural norms of the place it was living.

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Name : Dot, Gender : Female, Age : none, City : L.A., State : CA, Country : United States, Social class : Middle class, 

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