Culture War, Gentrification, and More

Michael Idov’s analysis of the culture war between the Hasidic community of Williamsburg and the relatively recent hipster influx points to the argument over bike lanes as an ancillary problem stemming from a deep rooted clash of cultures. The title, “The Clash of the Bearded Ones,” is humorous, and the article somehow manages to reach a certain lightheartedness in spite of the serious discord between the group. In the culture war Idov describes, the Hasidic complaints to the bike lanes involved “my wife was hit by a bike,” and “the women cycling through the neighborhood are an affront” to modest sensibilities.The first reason given applies personal anecdotes in lieu of real arguments- understandable, but irrelevant to the discussion. The second reason really stems from the type of community Hasidic Jewry designed and upheld when they came to America. Idov describes somewhat the roots of the Williamsburg community- this is true, but there is more to the picture.

European Jewry saw America as the “traifeh medina,” the land that was wholly unkosher. Waves of Jewish immigration had come only to lose connection to their religious roots and traditions. This kind of assimilation was seen as so dangerous and pervasive that to many religious Jewish leaders in Europe, it was better to remain with the physical threats from the European antisemitism of the 19th and 20th century than the spiritual dangers of America. These leaders, with the knowledge of a long history of discrimination, pogroms and almost a boom-and-bust cycle of violence and vitriolic hatred against Jews, could not have foreseen the overwhelming magnitude of the Holocaust that occurred. There is also a long history of animosity between Hasidic and mainstream Jewry, especially in the context of the enlightenment of the 19th century: the two groups had fundamentally different approaches of how to deal with the overwhelming assimilation of their constituents. Many European (non-Hasidic) Jews were influenced by the writings of Rabbi Samson Rafael Hirsch, who espoused the marriage of modernity and tradition- “Torah im Derech Eretz,” or literally “Torah with the way of the land.” He believed that Judaism and its practitioners were strong enough to withstand the pressures of the outside world and promoted a harmonious relationship with non-Jews while still holding true to tradition. On the other hand, Hasidic Jewry saw enlightenment as a call to focus inwardly: to isolate themselves against the world as a bulwark against the non-Kosher aspects of the modern world. One way this is accomplished is by their distinctive dress, another is language (Yiddish). Thus the Hasidic enclaves formed in America were designed to be as self-sufficient and isolated as possible from the outside world. Williamsburg is one such example; New Square is another. In Hasidic neighborhoods, the education is almost completely religious studies; for boys, they learn Jewish texts nearly all day, from 8 to 3 or 4, and only then start learning secular subjects like english and math. Girls have a more equitable breakup of learning, with about half the day dedicated to each. Most Hasidic Jews simply do not have the skill set needed to enter the professional world; that’s why they tend to be businesspeople or entrepreneurs dealing with primarily real estate. The community is increasingly insular, and the more encroachment the community feels, like the addition of immodestly dressed women biking throughout the streets, the stronger the push for stricter halachic stringencies and the greater they push back.

The most dangerous cultural significance of the hipster encroachment is those Hasids who now identify as hipster- all they need to do is wear a knit, maybe a newsboy hat and a flannel shirt and BAM! They are hipsters. But they have a deeper draw for disillusioned Hasidim, as they appropriate their past into something that is cool–it is original, and untainted by the masses– a hipster fantasy. In the past, many who left Hasidic Judaism would hide their past. Today, there is no need. The internet has made so much information accessible- social media and blogs give voices to those who otherwise would be marginalized and ostracized from their communities. Anyone who is part of a highly insular community fears being ostracized not only for themselves (they would suddenly be bereft of the community’s support) but also the effect it would have on their entire extended family. That girl discussed in Idov’s article who left religion and got a tattoo? If she had siblings they’ll probably have a harder time getting married. That kind of guilt follows those who leave. And the underworld Idov hinted at (the facebook alter egos)– it definitely exists.

Hipsters take something original and appropriate it into trends. In Steven Kurutz’s article “Caught in the Hipster Trap,” he describes how increasingly difficult NOT being identified as a hipster has gotten. This does not only apply to clothing styles- hipsters have appropriated everything handmade, everything “artisan,” and anything sourced locally (which is a good thing! repeat– a GOOD thing). But the word ‘hipster’ itself has gotten so trendy it is almost an insult- you want to be ahead of the masses, not one of them.