4 ms·

While their way of dress seems similar, the comparisons really stop there. Hasidim don't have an opposition to technology. They drive, use electricity, have cel

While their way of dress seems similar, the comparisons really stop there. Hasidim don't have an opposition to technology. They drive, use electricity, have cell phones, etc. B&H Photo in NY is run by Satmar Hasidim, for example.

MaysonL 5y ago
Well, both groups also have many more children than average, thus requiring ever-expanding amounts of real estate.
cainxinth 5y ago
I’ve been shopping at B&H for decades. The similarity goes beyond clothes. The Hassids and the Amish basically decided that their society should, as much as possible, try to replicate their existence in 18th century Europe. The Amish have gone further in that attempt, but both want to block out modern influences to a large extent. Not saying it’s good or bad, but that’s what they are doing.
- alisonkisk 5y ago
  Nothing except clothing and religious spiritual belief is "18th Century". An on-line camera store is not 18th Century.
- steviedotboston 5y ago
  living in New York City and running an electronics store isn't very 18th century.
dragonwriter 5y ago
> Hasidim don't have an opposition to technology. Technically, as I understand it, neither do the Amish. They have opposition to uses of technology that they feel undermine the social, and particularly family, structure. This may result on bans on technology which is seen as prone to such use and for which there isn't a combination of positive use and prescribed manner of use that adequately mitigates the problem (the exact boundaries of which differing between different Amish groups.)
schoen 5y ago
I think there are lots of other parallels you could draw. * Religion is supposed to define almost every aspect of life and culture. * Unlike many other Jewish and Christian movements and communities, both groups emphasize visible, conscious, active separatism from surrounding cultures. (Whereas other orthodox Jews not uncommonly wear clothes typical of their neighbors and work in secular cultural vocations, like secular university teaching or even being the host of Jeopardy.) * As a sibling comment pointed out, having lots of kids is encouraged. * There is a process by which local authorities can interpret the rules, and their interpretations are binding on their communities. (If you don't like them, you need to leave the community to be subject to a different community's interpretation.) * There are different communities with different interpretations and traditions, but, within certain parameters, they may respect and accept each other, intermarry, cooperate in various ways, and so on. The hasidim do also regulate the use of technology by their members (this article alludes to Internet restrictions, for example), but maybe on a "default allow" rather than "default deny" basis. It seems like the Amish prioritize keeping their communities based around certain kinds of work (farming and small-scale crafts and manufacturing), and also keeping them rural. Hasidim have made a switch to urban (and, as the article notes, suburban) living.
TchoBeer 5y ago
>have cell phones My impression was that this isn't true? It's at least true of some Hasidim, maybe Satmar was different.
smitty1e 5y ago
I had no intention of making a detailed comparison; only to note the magnitude of the distinctiveness.

MaysonL 5y ago

Well, both groups also have many more children than average, thus requiring ever-expanding amounts of real estate.

cainxinth 5y ago

I’ve been shopping at B&H for decades. The similarity goes beyond clothes. The Hassids and the Amish basically decided that their society should, as much as possible, try to replicate their existence in 18th century Europe. The Amish have gone further in that attempt, but both want to block out modern influences to a large extent. Not saying it’s good or bad, but that’s what they are doing.

alisonkisk 5y ago
Nothing except clothing and religious spiritual belief is "18th Century". An on-line camera store is not 18th Century.
steviedotboston 5y ago
living in New York City and running an electronics store isn't very 18th century.

dragonwriter 5y ago

> Hasidim don't have an opposition to technology. Technically, as I understand it, neither do the Amish. They have opposition to uses of technology that they feel undermine the social, and particularly family, structure. This may result on bans on technology which is seen as prone to such use and for which there isn't a combination of positive use and prescribed manner of use that adequately mitigates the problem (the exact boundaries of which differing between different Amish groups.)

schoen 5y ago

I think there are lots of other parallels you could draw. * Religion is supposed to define almost every aspect of life and culture. * Unlike many other Jewish and Christian movements and communities, both groups emphasize visible, conscious, active separatism from surrounding cultures. (Whereas other orthodox Jews not uncommonly wear clothes typical of their neighbors and work in secular cultural vocations, like secular university teaching or even being the host of Jeopardy.) * As a sibling comment pointed out, having lots of kids is encouraged. * There is a process by which local authorities can interpret the rules, and their interpretations are binding on their communities. (If you don't like them, you need to leave the community to be subject to a different community's interpretation.) * There are different communities with different interpretations and traditions, but, within certain parameters, they may respect and accept each other, intermarry, cooperate in various ways, and so on. The hasidim do also regulate the use of technology by their members (this article alludes to Internet restrictions, for example), but maybe on a "default allow" rather than "default deny" basis. It seems like the Amish prioritize keeping their communities based around certain kinds of work (farming and small-scale crafts and manufacturing), and also keeping them rural. Hasidim have made a switch to urban (and, as the article notes, suburban) living.

TchoBeer 5y ago

>have cell phones My impression was that this isn't true? It's at least true of some Hasidim, maybe Satmar was different.

smitty1e 5y ago

I had no intention of making a detailed comparison; only to note the magnitude of the distinctiveness.