The rules and lifestyle of Hasidic Jews seem mysterious. They adhere to strict beliefs and practices that appear complex. This guide will briefly explain the basics of their ultra-orthodox culture. It will outline some fundamental facts, and it will answer a few common questions.
image attribution: Dr. Ondřej Havelka (cestovatel). Image cropped and resized
Where are Hasidic Jews from?
Although the Jewish religion is over 3000 years old and originates in the Middle East, Ultra Orthodox Hasidic culture began only around 250 years ago – in Eastern Europe. A new movement was introduced that emphasized physical activity (example: dancing) over studying text (example: reading Talmudic books). This movement had a heightened fraternal nature to it – participants formed extremely close-knit communities that centered around a grand rabbi leader (known as a ‘Rebbe’). The movement survived through oppression, mass emigration and the Holocaust and is now located mainly in the USA and Israel. However, Hasidic Jewish community affiliations are based on the town or city where their families lived in Europe. There are dozens of sects – corresponding to various places of origin. For example, one of the largest sects is ‘Satmar’ – named for the city of Satu Mare in Romania. Another sect is called ‘Vien’ whose origin is from Vienna. Although virtually none of the sect members still live in those cities, the sects maintain their affiliation based on those cities of origin.
Basics
The fundamental principle of Hasidic Jewish beliefs and practices is: “change nothing.” The way that they conducted their lives back in Eastern Europe is how it should continue perpetually. This applies to language, clothing, food and every other aspect of their lifestyle. Yiddish is the default language. Yiddish is a unique language whose basis is German mixed with Polish, Russian, Hebrew, and English. Gender roles are traditional, and genders are kept separated almost all of the time (in school, synagogue, etc). Marriages are arranged, usually at age 18 to 21. The Hasidic community is very fraternal – men and boys spend a significant amount of time in the synagogue together. Often they will also participate in feast gatherings with the Rebbe which entail joyous singing & dancing. The Rebbe is the absolute leader of the sect and he will rule on all religious beliefs and practices. Physical modesty is paramount – bodies must be covered fully and all clothing is formal.
image attribution: Fronl. Image resized
Clothing
Hasidic Jewish men are known for wearing long black frock coats and hats. This was the fashion among nobility in Poland, Ukraine etc. in the 18th/19th Century. The fur hat that is worn on Sabbath (Saturday) and holidays is called a ‘streimel.’ This hat can cost as much as $1000 or more!!
Hassidic Jewish women follow strict rules of modesty. Skirts hang below the knees and sleeves extend past the elbows. When a woman gets married the rule is that she must always keep her hair covered. Typically she will wear a wig that resembles real hair. Some Hasidic women shave their heads, which are covered when they are out in public. The reason for this is that they are taking the rules of modesty to the most extreme – perhaps if she has no hair, then it won’t be possible for a man to see it.
Large family sizes
Hasidic Jewish people are known for having large families. 6-10 children is typical, and sometimes they have as many as 12 or more! This is another practice: reproduce as much as possible. It is considered a top rule which was commanded directly from G-d. This is the reason that even though some sects were nearly wiped out in the Holocaust, there are now communities packed with tens of thousands of people! And this is the reason that Hasidic neighborhoods in the USA are loaded with small children and school buses. School hours are long: male teenagers might be at school 8:00am – 8:00pm on 5 days per week. The schedule will consist mainly of talmudic studies in the morning and early afternoon, and then in the late afternoon will be secular studies (mathematics, history etc).
image attribution Adam Jones. Image resized
Shabbos aka Sabbath
Saturday is the holy day of the week. The agenda is to relax with family and spend time worshiping. Prayers are always 3 times per day – on Shabbos each prayer session is longer than usual. The defining rule of Shabbos is that ‘work’ is prohibited. The interpretation of this extends overwhelmingly over almost every aspect of daily life. Activities that are prohibited include driving, using any electric device, cooking, shopping or handling money. A Jewish person is not even allowed to carry any object outside of their home. All Hasidic ultra orthodox rules apply to Jewish people only – people who are not Jewish are not required to follow these customs or prohibitions. This is the reason that occasionally Hasidic Jewish people will ask a non-Jewish person to perform a basic task for them – such as turning on a light, turning on an air conditioner, etc. When enlisting a non-Jew to assist, they will try to avoid making a direct request (example: “Can you please turn on the light?”). Rather, they will hint at what they need and hope the non-Jew will understand and help them (example: “It’s very dark in here, it would be brighter if the light switch was turned on”).
image attribution Baruch Greenberg Image resized
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Major holidays
Hasidic Jews have more than 8 different holidays that they practice. A holiday is called a ‘Chag’ in Hebrew or ‘Yuntiff’ in Yiddish. The major restrictions of Shabbos (no electricity, no phones, no driving, etc) apply on several of the holidays too. A single exception to this is that cooking is allowed on holidays even though it’s prohibited on Shabbos.
Here are the main holidays which are the most openly visible in an ultra orthodox neighborhood:
Sukkos
Sukkos is a 7 day holiday in autumn. It is celebrating the redemption of the Ancient Israelite Jews from Ancient Egypt. The main practice is to build a temporary hut called a ‘sukkah’ outside of the home. The purpose it to reminisce about the 40 years wandering in the desert, where the Jews had no permanent shelter and were protected by G-d. The sukkah must have a wooden roof which is partially open to the sky. The rule is that all meals must be eaten in the sukkah, and some Hasidic Jews with more stringent beliefs will study in it or even sleep in it. The Sukkah can be built from lumber, or nowadays there are prepared Sukkahs which can be purchased and self-assembled. They might be made of metal, plastic or fiberglass.
Sukkah huts for the Jewish holiday of Sukkos
Pesach aka ‘Passover’
Pesach is an 8 day holiday in spring. It is also celebrating the Jewish redemption from Ancient Egypt. The main practice is to refrain from consuming any major grain and grain-based products. A Hasidic Jew must also completely purge them from his or her possession. They must perform an exhaustive cleaning of their home, property, vehicle or business to remove every single crumb of bread or wheat/grain-based food. The purpose for this rule is to commemorate the following: G-d hurried the Jews out of Egypt so quickly that the dough they were preparing to eat did not have time to rise and become bread. While they were leaving the dough baked in the hot sun and wound up as a thin loaf called ‘matzah.’ The rule on Pesach is that matzah is used as a substitute for bread or for any wheat-based product. There are 2 long feasts each called a ‘seder.’ The name ‘Passover ‘ comes from the fact that G-d visited the home of every Ancient Egyptian and killed their first-born son. However G-d ‘passed over’ the homes of all faithful Jews by skipping them and not harming their children.
Purim
Purim is a joyful Jewish holiday in Spring season. It celebrates how in Ancient Persia a plot to eradicate the Jewish race was thwarted by G-d through orchestrating a series of small coincidences. The arrogant villain named ‘Haman’ wanted to attack the Jews and take their possessions, but he ended up being hanged and Jews received his possessions instead. The main practice of Purim is to celebrate festively by getting drunk on alcohol. The other main practice is to masquerade in costume. The whole day is a big party with feasts and merriment in the street.
Another major practice is exchanging food gifts (called ‘Shalach manos’). Each adult is required to prepare food gift packages and send them to at least 1 person. Customarily people send out dozens to their friends and family. They will also have extras prepared, because it is etiquette to give a gift package to anyone who gives one to you. On Purim there is also a very large amount of donation money collected for charity.
First image: The Hanukah menorah. There are 8 stems plus 1 auxiliary stem in the center which is taller. Second image: Hanukah delicacy of latkes