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Actually, I grew up in NYC and lived there most of my life and actually worked with and know people from these communities. The ones I worked with were quite Othodox but not part of the Satmar community, which is the one that has the most problems and is the most closed. These people are literally bussed to Manhattan in separate, closed busses to work in things like the diamond trade, and their "communities" are like police states. The rabbis wear their 18th century Eastern European garb (breeches, hose and fur hats) and are like gods in these communities. They don't permit their people who are suffering from domestic violence, child molestation or anything crime in their community to talk to the NYC police, they are allowed to violate practically every civil law out there because the police are afraid to enter their neighborhoods, and they contribute a huge amount of money to the Democrat party. That's the only reason they've been able to get away with things for so long.

BTW, maybe you should learn to be more articulate and stop the garbage mouth if you want to discuss this.

Time to get off your self-righteous soapbox, Livvie-la.

I am very much aware of the private Chassidic-run buses into NYC from northern Rockland County neighborhoods. The buses are tailored to supporting their lifestyle, i.e. they are constructed like a synagogue on wheels so that the men can hold morning services there instead of having to first go to their community synagogues. A great time-saver. It is not only the rabbis who wear the characteristic Chassidic dress, but every man. They don't wear their "fur hats" every day, only on the Sabbath or holidays. Jewish law dictates that one should attempt to solve domestic problems within the community first. Going to outside authorities would only be done when community efforts failed. If you had been persecuted by civil governments for centuries and been murdered at the hands of these very same governments, you would also show extreme hesitation, perhaps to the point of not even considering the possibility, before going to a government entity to let your dirty laundry hang out to people not of your culture. How is that different from many FReepers who also don't trust the government?

Where do you get your "facts" about the Chassidim donating "huge amount[s] of money to the Democrat party"? I don't know ANY Orthodox Jews who support the Democratic party. They are all conservatives and therefore align with the Republican party. They are disgusted with the liberals' support of abortion, homosexuality, etc. And your comment "That's the only reason they've been able to get away with things for so long" smacks of anti-semitism.