A Life Apart - Hasidism in America

OY VEY! (59 of 60 Found this Helpful)   August 18, 2002
This wonderful documentary by Oren Rudavsky and Menachem Daum, which is narrated by Leonard Nimoy and Sarah Jessica Parker, offers the viewer a birdseye view of an interesting, insular, and little known, yet often misunderstood, sect of Judaism. Founded in Eastern Europe in the eighteenth century, it is characterized by mysticism, prayer, and religious zeal. It is not a lifestyle for everyone, but it is certainly a lifestyle about which everyone should know.

Hasidim are singular in their way of living. The men wear the same type of clothing that was worn in Eastern Europe in the eighteenth century, hats, which often serve to distinguish one Hasidic sect from another, black pants, black jackets, and white shirts. The men are bearded and sport the traditional "payess", or side curls. The women cover their heads with scarves or elaborate wigs and are always modestly clothed, covered from head to toe. The Hasidim adhere to the same customs as when they were first founded, speak Yiddish, seem to have a universal, collective mind, for the most part, and adhere to a strict, ultra-orthodox interpretation of Judaism.

The Hasidim came in large numbers to America sometime after World War II, peaking in the nineteen fifties. The narrators explain some of the reasons why the Hasidim, strangers in a strange land, were able to flourish. Many settled in New York City, and there are large communities of Hasidim in Brooklyn, where they try to co-exist with their non-Hasidim neighbors, not always successfully. They chiefly occupy the neighborhoods of Williamsburg, Crown Heights, and Boro Park. They even have their own town in upstste New York, Kiryas Joel. The documentary films the Hasidim in their downstate milieu and gives token recognition to how they are perceived by their non-Hasidim neighbors, who tend to view the self-imposed seclusion of the Hasidim as exclusion of themselves. To some extent they are correct, though not in the way one might think.

While there are a number of sects, such as the Bobovs, the Satmars, the Lubavitchers, just to name of few of the most prominent here in America, each sect is ruled by its own Rebbe who is the acknowledged leader of the sect and highly revered. The film dwells upon the commonalities, rather than differences, that exist among the various sects. Their differences, however, are a story for another documentary. This film focuses more on giving the viewer a somewhat loving view of the Hasidim, touching only briefly upon the differences between the Hasidim and the non-Hasidim. Quite frankly, in some neighborhoods, there is a cold war going on between these two factions. One need only come to Brooklyn, New York to see this.

The Hasidim tend to shun the media and do not watch films or television, for the most part. In fact, in watching the film, the viewer can see many Hasidim shielding themselves from the eye of the camera, so as not to appear. Some who did appear, however, expressed a justification for doing so. The Hasidim do not, as a whole, send their children to college to pursue a higher, secular education. The lack of higher education, however, precludes them from professional jobs such as lawyers, doctors, accountants, pharmacists, etc. They tend to work at jobs within their community where possible, though they will venture out into the larger non-Hasidic community for employment, when necessary. This is a source of concern for them and a test of their strength and resolve to adhere to their own ways, as such employment forces them to interact with a community with whom they normally would not.

The film also takes the viewer into one of their schools or Yeshivas, allowing the viewer to see how the children are acculturated from early on. The Hasidim are essentially fundamentalists, and, as are many fundamentalists, they are extremely narrow in their world view. The film also interviews Paula Gluck, an obviously intelligent and articulate, young woman who left the Hasidic community to live her life as she chose, to write and seek a higher education among the non-Hasidim. The film balances this defection by interviewing a man who affirmatively chose to become Hasidim, though his Jewish parents, holocaust survivors, were not. It is an even handed handling of two issues germaine to the Hasidim, those who leave and those who join. The Hasidim are not part of mainstream America, nor do they wish to be, though they cherish many of the values cherished by other Americans: family, home, hearth, and community. Marriages, however, are arranged by the parents, often through a matchmaker. This documentary memorializes a Hasidic wedding and illustrates the division of the men from the women, even during such a joyous occasion.

Whether one agrees or disagrees with their chosen way of life, however, this documentary is a most interesting film. Working in Brooklyn and finding myself often having to interact with the Hasidim, I absolutely loved this documentary, even though it was a bit of a white wash, leaving out some of the darker aspects of this segment of the Brooklyn community. One of the most important issues with respect to this community was entirely omitted. This was on the issue of their importance politically, as a group with which to be reckoned. This group holds a great deal of political power, because they will follow their Rebbe's lead and vote as a block. Politicians in New York do not hesitate to curry favor with this group and court them because of it. Most recently, the Hasidic community of Kiryas Joel in upstate New York made headlines for the way they voted in the race for U.S. Senator from New York and was the subject of much heated debate.

Still, for those unfamiliar with the Hasidim, this documentary will be an interesting and delightful revelation and will hold the interest of the viewer throughout. The documentary is well done, beautifully filmed, and clearly, a labor of love. Those viewers who are interested in other cultures, ultra-orthodox Judaism, or the religious beliefs of others will have a deep appreciation for this wonderful and informative documentary.

If you teach "The Chosen" you need this video (47 of 49 Found this Helpful)   March 17, 2000
This documentary is currently my #1 recommendation to students, teachers, and others who want a good visual presentation of Hasidic culture. I highly recommend it in my well-used Hasidism FAQ, and it is the #1 best-selling educational video on my website. Whether you are teaching a unit on "The Chosen" in some remote area where there are no Hasidism, or living in New York City where you see Hasidim every day on the streets and have always wondered about them, this video is for you. It's an excelent multi-cultural tool and, because of its PBS documentary style, it can be used in public schools without violating the separation of church (synagogue, actually...) and state.

My one complaint is that the producers fell for the ubiquitous "obligatory" politically-correct need to include a dissatified woman (poet Pearl Gluck) who left the Hasidic community. I realize that PBS wants to be objective, but why not balance this with a story about a "modern" woman who left that world to become Hasidic (of which there are MANY!!!)

I also felt that the segment about the black guy who was offended when he asked about a Jewish holy day and was told "we are praying for you, too" was not well explained. The black guy thought the Jew was being paternalistic toward blacks by praying for "the poor black guy" (his assumption) but that was not it at all. Since the Jewish group was gathered around the water saying prayers, I assume it was Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and they were doing the tashlich service. The THEME of Rosh Hashanah includes prayers for the whole world --it has nothing to do with race. It would have been nice if ths had been explained somehow.

Still, this is the best documentary on Hasidism currently available on video and, in spite of these flaws, it is well worth buying as an educational resource. (I currently recommend it on my Hasidism FAQ site). The video also has an interesting trailer interview with the producers, who discuss various reactions to the film, how and why it was made, etc.

Very Interesting -- and well done! (10 of 10 Found this Helpful)   October 26, 2000
I saw this on PBS and it deserves the rave reviews it got in educational circles. It's 90 minutes long and it covers Hasidic history (good archive material on Lubovitch!), home life, customs, etc. There's some footage of the Bobover Rebbe and his followers -- that's a group I barely knew about before. Also lots of material on Lubovitch. Most of the footage is of families, schools, and synagogues and was shot in Brooklyn, NY. There's a few scenes in Russia and Ukraine (where a lot of Hasidim originally came from), but none from Israel. (Well, after all, the title does say it is about Hasidism in AMERICA.) In addition to the interviews with Hasidim, there are opinions of scholars, and some non-Hasidic neighbors who are angry that the Hasidim won't talk to them on the streets. (I didn't understand that attitude at all -- I mean, the streets are dangerous places. I don't talk to strangers either, and I'm not Hasidic. There's no rule that says you have to talk to people just because they live on your street. A lot of the Hasidim didn't want to be filmed for this movie, either -- and that's their right.) Anyway, I learned a lot. Good film!

A MUST SEE (18 of 21 Found this Helpful)   September 8, 2003
I was given this Video to look at by a friend who had converted to Judaism. Since much of it was filmed where I live and I know personally some of the people in it, I have a different perspective. I have suggested to a number of people to see this in order to see what real chassidim are like. It is the closest you will ever get to it unless you actually live in the community. It is NOT perfect, and there are a few things that I would like to point out.

1. Most of what the scholars say is funny, and not to be taken seriously. They seem to show an uncanny ability of not understanding.
2. Some of the critiques of chassidim show a non-Jewish perspective. (The feminist views were funny. I find it hard to believe that a man who has to rise early and go to work in the cesspool of Manhattan is exposed to more spirituality, then a women who stays home in a pure enviornment raising pure holy children. It seems women get more spiritual benefit from that lifestyle then the men.)
3. I never got an understanding of why Pearl Gluck left the community. In general they did not point out that people leaving is very rare, and women leaving is even rarer.
4. Some of the Yiddish translations are not so correct.

However, the positives far outweigh the negatives. And in any case, there really is nothing out there that gets as close to the truth as this does.

Took 7 years to film and the result is wonderful! (6 of 6 Found this Helpful)   February 27, 2002
If you missed this film when it was first shown on PBS or you saw it and want a personal copy (I did), this is your chance to get one. Don't pass it up because you'll want to watch this one again and again. Why? Well, for one thing, it is 90 minutes of absolutely fascinating portraits of Hasidic Judaism, covering a range of values, views and lifestyles - more diversity than you might imagine in a group often seen as insular and restricted. For another, it isn't a one-sided film but one with with heart and integrity. It shows the harsh side as well as the beautiful side of the Hasidic world. There are interviews with people who resent Hasidic Jews or who think they're strange or "weird". But there are also rare and beautiful glimpes into the Hasidic lifestyle, mystical stories, lovely music. All in a context that makes clear that the Hasidim place a high value on family, community and, of course, spirituality.
My only quibble is that they didn't show a non-Jewish woman who converted to Hasidic Judaism and I know there are plenty of those out there. Instead, one part focused on a woman who left the community. A little more balance would have been appreciated. Still, I don't know of a more engaging and balanced documentary on the subject out here...