Hasidim Clash In Brooklyn

New York Post ^ | 10.30.2003 | Patrick Gallahue

[NYC GOP Chick]

October 30, 2003 -- A holy war between two feuding Brooklyn Hasidic groups erupted outside a religious school in Williamsburg yesterday as more than 150 students tried to storm the building, which had been closed by a rival faction.

The school for recently married men, known as a kolel, was closed for the second straight day yesterday morning when the students arrived and were met by security guards and German shepherds.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Well, at least they're not throwing Bibles at each other...yet. I've always thought it was very special that they have to hire professional security for the synagogues during High Holy Day services, just to stop people from beating the snot out of each other.

My dad grew up in that part of Williamsburg and remembers when they literally rioted at a local temple because of the founding of Israel.

[Simcha7]

Shalom!

Hi...NYC GOP Chick,

OY VEY!

[NYC GOP Chick]

Shalom, Simcha! :)

So, what do you make of the Satmars?

[Simcha7]

Vell...there's Not enough space on this FR page to give a proper answer...except, I Pray for them.

In a nut shell...they ALL Need to Read and Study The Holy SCRIPTURES instead of following their finite Rebbes to the Grave.

There Is a Big Difference between Scriptural Judaism and Rabbinical Judaism.

I am a Zionist and Support ISRAEL.

So to them I'd be considered worse than Chopped Liver!

[NYC GOP Chick]

But they DO study the Scriptures. Other than procreate and stick out their hands for gubmint money, that's all they pretty much do.

Like you, I'm an Israel-supporting Zionist, so they despise me.

[Uncle Miltie]

If they had been Moslem, they would be beating the shiite out of each other. Note that Moishe's truck bomb service is not operating...

[NYC GOP Chick]

Oh, but they *do* have a history of beating the crap out of each other -- and at synagogue, on the High Holy Days!

My dad once said that except for the terrorism, they kind of remind him of the Taliban. Both want to live in the 14th century, both treat women like crap and both *loathe* those who don't follow their extremist interpretations of their respective religions. He didn't know if they're just not that violent or not well-organized enough to emulate the Taliban.

[joesnuffy]

Hardly the moral equivilant of the taliban...
The taliban rape and murder their women who mouth off...for one thing...
I dont see the Hasids shooting each other or those around them or blowing up school buses

[Honestfreedom]

I used to work as an accountant in New York and we had a few Satmars in the shmata business. They were among the least ethical businessmen I have met. I always hoped that as a commumnity they would grow up and stop the Israel hating. Maybe they just hate everyone.

[Guillermo]

It's been a while since I read Chaim Potok's "The Chosen."

Why again are tehy opposed to Zionism?

[Natural Law]

Can someone explain the difference between these whackos and their militant Islamic counter parts? Having watched these guys in New York and Israel I see more similarities; intolerance, self righteousness, quick to resort to violence, arrogance to the law, etc, .......

[GovernmentShrinker]

Whackos are whackos. No matter what brand they claim to be, they're all really the same. Obsessive, hostile, paranoid, and out of touch with reality.

[Ann Archy]

"German Shepherds"???? What's next, Water hoses?

[Cinnamon Girl]

This whole thread stinks and the comments about the Satmar are based on ignorance. They don't mistreat women, they don't hate everyone who doesn't agree with them, they don't bomb civilians or slit the throats on non-believers... the kneejerk comparisons to terrorists is just plain stupid.

[Ann Archy]

They throw rocks at people in cars on the Sabbath....geesh.

[Yaelle]

There are many different groups of Hasidic Jews. Some do not believe in Israel as a "secular" country and think that it's going against the Torah. Some throw stones on the Sabbath. Most do not and most do support Israel; indeed most have family there.

Hasids are literal interpreters of the Torah (bible), just as some Christians are. There are differences in what they interpret, and there are centuries' worth of written arguments on everything.

Having sent one of my kids to a Hasidic school for a couple years, I notice one thing which disturbs me from a Jewish point of view. Since they believe so much in following custom, they can get caught up in superstition. Sometimes there is a fine line between the two. And I think that is how they get "stuck" on customs, too, like the 18th century dress and wigs. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think women's real hair is immodest.

Also, as even they would point out to you, there is a tendency in the close-knit Hasidic community to focus on studying the Torah so much that actually FOLLOWING the Torah and being a good person seems to "get in the way" of their studying. This is a complete misconception of what G-d wants. The Torah is not to be worshipped but to be followed. Its Holy words are pointless unless they remind or teach how to make Holy decisions in life. Deeds are far more important than study, and that is one of the facts of life that they study.

[NYC GOP Chick]

I dont see the Hasids shooting each other or those around them or blowing up school buses

They like to throw prayer books at one another at High Holy Day services, and the synagogues have to hire professional security to stop them from killing each other.

And then there was the full-scale riot they held at the synagogue across the street from my dad's brownstone, to express their displeasure with the establishment of the State of Israel.

And please note that it's in NO WAY all, or even most, Hasids -- just this wacko subsect.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Why again are tehy opposed to Zionism?

Essentially, it has to do with their belief that Israel shouldn't exist until the Messiah returns.

[NYC GOP Chick]

They used to drive my dad's family bat$h!t. There is one story that my grandfather told me a *looooong* time that I automatically think of whenever I read, see or hear anything at all about Succos.

My grandfather was a cop and often worked strange hours. Knowing that the holiday was coming up and knowing that these people like to build Succas everywhere, he asked them to let him know when they were planning to build one in the driveway that a bunch of them shared, so that he could move his car out of the garage.

Instead, they waited until he was asleep and started (LOUDLY!) building it. The noise woke him, and he went downstairs and informed them that unless they stopped and let him move his car out of the garage, he was going to have the only car in Brooklyn with a Succa on it. And anyone who knew him knew damn well that he meant it.

For the goyim here (and we do love ya!), this is what a Succa looks like:

[NYC GOP Chick]

Can someone explain the difference between these whackos and their militant Islamic counter parts?

More weapons? A more inherently violent disposition? Better organization and funding? Beats me...