Hasidic Williamsburg Jewish Community Lifestyle

A quiet world, buttoned up inside urban Brooklyn, goes largely unnoticed — yet it helps keep a distinct culture alive. The Hasidic community of Williamsburg, New York, has crafted a self-sufficient world. Their lives, bound together by faith, language, and tradition, revolve within a few square miles of Brooklyn's East Side. Marriage, for example, is organized by matchmakers, with intimate family structures bound by seven decades of heritage.

Hasidic Williamsburg's Privacy in New York

The walls are not physical but rather the language and customs of the Hasidic Jewish people. Wrapped within a community in which entire neighborhoods feel like an alternate country in New York. Windows wrap around the homes of members who drive in the same community. Men and women do not interact unless they are family, living a compliant life with the community, being able to leave their car unlocked and do not need any insurance for it. Marriages are arranged, especially when people from the community showed up.

Living to Keep Jewish Culture Strong

Not everyone contains the same passionate roots as the American Jewish people. The community is a stronghold for many Jewish individuals to continue their traditions, free from the pressures of modern life. Marriages are arranged while they are young, scheduling everything together. However, the community argues that this isolation is essential to preserve Jewish identity, rooted in the traumatic history of the Holocaust. Families raise 8-10 children within this community.

Kosher Tech and Thorny Principles at the Community Level

The Williamsburg neighborhood is unique in that it follows strict rules of its own. For example, community members only use phones without internet, social media, or digital entertainment. Kosher technology stores cater to this specific need, selling phones that are compliant with their lifestyle. This wireless isolation is extended to other aspects of life, such as completely eliminating the social media aspect of everyday living — none can use any phones that contain social media. Posters, however, are prevalent in the community showing the advancement of technology. It feels like a different world. Williamburg has a printing press that is actually growing, expanding beyond the community to sell books and other literature. The community's focus on print culture is a testament to their dedication to preserving the past while also growing.

Community and Tradition at the Core of Marriage

Marriage is a central aspect of life in Williamsburg, and it is approached with a unique blend of tradition and love. Couples are matched by community matchmakers, known as shadchanim, who consider factors such as compatibility, family background, and religious observance. Marriages often happen to people who are young, and everyone in the community knows each other, making it so the relationships turn out well. Arranged marriages have successfully been going for decades in this community. When selecting a match, the community looks for young people with close ties to the community, desirable traits, and the willingness and ability to work together. These traditions ensure that marriage is a sacred and enduring social institution, firmly rooted in the community. The community is tight-knit and takes pride in each other's interests. Couples are not shown in public together during the engagement period but instead see each other under the chuppah, a wedding canopy.

Raising Kids in a Community of Conformity

Parents in Williamsburg have strict guidelines for children, raising 8-10 children, especially in order to grow the community. They are raised with traditional Jewish customs and values, which is something we don't see a lot of in New York. Children are educated in community schools that focus on both religious and secular subjects. They grow up in a place where everyone looks out for each other. They are taught that following the halacha, or Jewish law, under strict guidelines, is important — and here that is true. Children are taught that coming together as a community to pray will give them a better life. Raising children in Williamsburg is a collective effort, with the entire community playing a role in their upbringing. This ensures that the next generation is deeply connected to their Jewish heritage and committed to preserving their way of life.

What the Outside World Misses

Hasidic lifestyle is centered on remaining within the Williamsburg community, there are aspects of it that the outside world may not understand or accept. This is where the restrictions come in, including separate activities for men and women, and arranged marriages. There's a stigma around the lifestyle from the outside — but it's one that has worked extremely well for generations. In fact, the community's close-knit nature and emphasis on family and tradition have led to a strong sense of belonging and support among its members. However, many outsiders see the lifestyle as one that disallows individualism or personal freedom. They might see the lifestyle as one that is too strict, and choose to feel as if they must be closed off from the world. Restraints are less likely to come from the community itself and more likely to be active on the outside world where we all live in and must deal with the pressure of the world.

Visiting Williamsburg

Visiting the Hasidic world of Williamsburg is a unique experience. Start with an open mind and open heart, ready to embrace a different way of life. The key to visiting Williamsburg is respect. * Dress modestly: Williamsburg is a religious community. If you plan to visit a synagogue or a religious event, be mindful of the customs and rules of the place. Understand that you may be denied entry to synagogues if you are dressed immodestly. * Follow local customs: Do not eat or drink in public places during the Sabbath or on religious holidays. You must be respectful, and follow rules. Engage with the community: The best way to experience Williamsburg is to engage with the community. They help take care of each other, so expect to be helped, as well. Be friendly to everyone, as the community is friendly to you. Don't hesitate to ask questions; the community is friendly and will help you with everything.