Much like married women in the Italian domus structure, Jewish mothers are considered to be the foundation of the home, responsible for “the perpetuation of the very foundations of Jewish existence.” In this sense, women have a very powerful role in maintaining Jewish practice and identity. Goldschmidt does not mention, however, that much like Italian women, they are also limited in this power and confined to certain religious expectations. It is unheard of, for example, for a woman to become a Rabbi in the orthodox community. Women are also bound by certain rules of dress, which do not apply to men. These restrictions are due to the Jewish emphasis on modesty. Similar to the “good woman” ideal of Italian culture, Judaism calls for a “modest woman” and her power ultimately lies in her strict dedication to these religious demands. Of course, as a Jewish female myself, I do not consider these demands to be restrictive of freedom and I certainly do not feel any resentment towards my religion for reasons that go beyond the confines of this discussion.
Perhaps this emphasis on modesty, in addition to the Chasidic emphasis on religious insularity, can be connected to their strong distinction between private and public spaces. I find it interesting that the insularity of Jews in Crown Heights sets them apart, yet also paradoxically unites them with other New Yorkers who also embrace the anonymity of urban life. But if this is so, why must the Lubavitch Chasidim be singled out for their insularity when it is something all urban dwellers practice to a certain extent?
It seems as though the answer lies in the varying reasons for insularity. Whereas the isolation of individuals in NYC is a result of urban culture, Jewish isolation is a result of religious factors. People often equate religion with culture, but Goldschmidt’s lengthy discussion of Kashrus highlights major differences between the two. While both cultural and kosher foods help construct collective identities, cultural food is the product of social forces, whereas kosher food is the product of God’s commandments and, therefore, transcends the constraints of the social world. For this reason, culinary exchange between blacks and Jews will not bring harmony to Crown Heights, but perhaps the ability to understand the significance behind their culinary differences will.
