 |
| Street dedication event on 13th Avenue in Boro Park |
I spent the day yesterday in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn. The first time I visited that area, back when I was in high school it was populated by a variety of Orthodox Jews, most of whom were Charedi (of both the Litvishe/Yeshivishe variety and various Chasidic groups).
I was amazed that a community like this existed was once populated by a variety of Orthodox Jews that were mainly Charedi, it is not just about fully populated by Chasidic Jews. I was amazed by what I saw. Kosher restaurants all over the place, mainly on 13th Avenue which was considered Boro Park’s epicenter.
That street had just about everything. Many stores catering to Orthodox Jewish needs. Book stores carrying all kind of Judaica; clothing stores catering to the higher level of Tznius most Orthodox Jews adhere to; and even a hat store catering to all manner of hats worn by the wide variety of Charedi Jews there, form the Yeshivishe Fedora to Hamburgs to Chasidic hats specific to each type of Chasidus, including a variety of Shtreimels. Boro Park is densely populated. Just about every square inch of space has some sort of building on it.
The neighborhood is old but because of demand, is relatively expensive. Now one practically has to be a millionaire to afford buying anything there. This has resulted in a population that has either been around there for decades or very wealthy Orthodox Jews. Which has led to an explosion in rehabbing those older buildings by the newer and richer owners.
Yesterday, for the first time I noticed that there was practically not a single male walking in the street that was not a Chasid. It appears that the diversity of Orthodox Jewish residents has changed into one that is very monolithic. Boro Park is now as Chasidic as Williamsburg. I did not see a single man walking in the street that was not wearing distinctively Chasidic clothing, sporting full beards, long Peyos and wearing distinctive Chasidic clothing. Not One.
Now I am pretty sure this did not happen overnight. It has been a relatively gradual process and has probably been largely Chasidic for quite some time. But I only noticed it yesterday for the first time.
What this tells me is that my prediction that the Chasidic world is growing exponentially to the point where they will comprise the majority of Orthodox Jews may already be happening. It also tells me that a lot of Chasidim do quite well financially. They could not have otherwise afforded to live in million dollar (and up) homes. Which leads me back to an issue that I have discussed quite frequently here. One that is very dear to my heart. The quality of their education.
That Chasidim have an intensive Jewish education is not in dispute. But the plain fact is that until recently many if not most Chasidic schools had relatively little secular education in elementary school (if at all) and no secular education beyond 8th grade. This is beginning to change somewhat. But I have no clue whether what is happeing is sufficient or whether it is window dressing with business as usual.
In light of the apparent wealth I saw in one of the biggest enclaves of Chasidim in America, one might challenge the notion that they actually need a secular education. They seem to be doing quite well without it.
While this might be true for most Boro Park residents. (At least the more recent ones.) I am however still convinced that it is not true for all of them. I believe that the majority of mainstream Chasidim (or the Satmar or Skvere variety) cannot get decent jobs because of the lack of a decent education .
By lacking the basic education that the rest of Orthodox Jews get, they are at a great disadvantage competing for jobs in the outside world. especially those that that whose language skills are amazing poor considering they were all, born here. It is also quite well known that many of them need government financial assistance just to make ends meet. Even if they make a relatively decent wage because of their often very large families.
It is therefore my considered opinion that nothing has changed. That a better education will bring up their level of income in most cases. That Chasidic leaders in America refuse to do what just about every other Orthodox segment does - hurts them. And I therefore continue to support doing what ever is legally within our power to try and change things.
One may ask why I keep talking about this. Why do I care about a group of Jews that I have so little to do with? That’s because I take seriously the Torah’s requirement to care about fellow Jews. We are all responsible for each other. Spiritually, mentally, and materially.
Besides it affects not only them but all of us. It does not speak well of us when the most religious looking Jews among us use welfare as a means of income. Which can sometimes end up as a Chilul HaShem! A better education might help reduce that dependency; raise their self esteem; and help to avoid the Chilul HaShem.
Which is apparently the same way that Shlomo Naskow sees it. I have no clue whether he is observant or not. The bio at the end of an article he wrote describes him this way:
Shlomo Noskow, who grew up Hasidic in Brooklyn, is an emergency medical physician in New York City.
Be that as it may, he obviously still cares about his old community. He does not sound like someone with sour grapes. He sounds like he simply cares. That he somehow was able to rise about the lack of a decent secular education does not prove that this is a realistic option for everyone.
Not everyone is able to catch up and sometimes even surpass their public school peers. Those that do are clearly in the minority. If that were not true, we would be seeing a lot more Chasidm like him. Nor can most Chasdim produce the kind of income those Boro Park residents seem to be able to in order to afford those million dollar homes.
Here in part is what Dr. Noskow says:
I am perpetually astonished by how Hasidic community leaders in New York have managed to convince thousands on the logic of keeping young Jewish boys uneducated…
I recall as a teenager spending 12 or so hours a day in my Hasidic high school in Brooklyn… There were no secular studies. No English, no math… More than 20 years later, the school still operates and, unfortunately, like many other Hasidic boys schools, it still does not provide students with a secular education…
My parents had my best interest in mind, but they acted like cogs in a system, following community norms. Hasidic Rabbis and community leaders set the norms, including school curricula…
It is perplexing that wonderful parents who deeply care about their children, allow the educational neglect of their education…
Proponents of the status quo say Hasidic boys seem to thrive. That ignores the fact that a large percentage of Hasidic families are dependent on government aid. We are essentially dooming generations to lives of poverty. Why? And shouldn’t government programs, including Section-8, food stamps and Medicaid, be reserved for people experiencing unforeseen events? The programs are not meant to be used as a way of life, the way they are being used by many in the Hasidic community.
I could not agree more.