Abstract
Footage from the 1997 documentary “A Life Apart: Hasidism in America” (directed by Menachem Daum and Oren Rudavsky), the first in-depth documentary about Hasidic Jews, members of a distinctive group within Judaism that has roots in pre-World War II Eastern Europe.
Interview with Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Berkowitz, a teacher in the Ger Yeshiva Yagdil Torah. (Part 2)
Terms you may encounter:
Nosh: snack
Pekl: parcel, burden
Peyos: Side curls worn by ultra-Orthodox men
Sidur: Prayerbook
Tsitses: Tassels worn on traditional garments by Jewish males as reminders of the commandments of Deuteronomy 22:12 and Numbers 15:37–41
00:00:31 - Interview with Rabbi Yehuda Moshe Berkowitz: About how the first exposure to current events and instilling of patriotism toward America comes for the children when they start to study secular subjects. About the gratitude of the first generation of Hasidic immigrants toward America.
00:02:43 - About how his origins were in Satmar and Skver Hasidism but the rebbes of those dynasties passed away or became ill and he felt in need of someone to talk to. About how the Gerer Rebbe had a special relationship with teenagers. His father allowed him to go to Israel to study with the rebbe.
00:06:06 - About how nervous he is at the start of every school year. About how every child has to master the alef-bais (alphabet) in order to move on to study the Torah. About the teacher's relationship to parents and how it's important to know about a child's home life.
00:11:37 - About how turning three years old is an important milestone for a boy and about the tradition of introducing a child to the alef-bais that day. About the custom of putting candy and honey on the letters to introduce learning as a joy.
00:15:11 - About the significance of the khumesh ceremony as an educational milestone. (When young boys are considered old enough for formal study of the Torah [Five Books of Moses])
00:17:11 - About there being no co-ed schools. Girls also learn khumesh but don't go on to study Talmud. About how girls have a more important role to play than "the future fathers." Most religious teaching of children is by women in the home.
00:20:20 - About the importance of teaching children to care about other people.
Interview with Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Berkowitz, a teacher in the Ger Yeshiva Yagdil Torah. (Part 2)
Terms you may encounter:
Nosh: snack
Pekl: parcel, burden
Peyos: Side curls worn by ultra-Orthodox men
Sidur: Prayerbook
Tsitses: Tassels worn on traditional garments by Jewish males as reminders of the commandments of Deuteronomy 22:12 and Numbers 15:37–41
00:00:31 - Interview with Rabbi Yehuda Moshe Berkowitz: About how the first exposure to current events and instilling of patriotism toward America comes for the children when they start to study secular subjects. About the gratitude of the first generation of Hasidic immigrants toward America.
00:02:43 - About how his origins were in Satmar and Skver Hasidism but the rebbes of those dynasties passed away or became ill and he felt in need of someone to talk to. About how the Gerer Rebbe had a special relationship with teenagers. His father allowed him to go to Israel to study with the rebbe.
00:06:06 - About how nervous he is at the start of every school year. About how every child has to master the alef-bais (alphabet) in order to move on to study the Torah. About the teacher's relationship to parents and how it's important to know about a child's home life.
00:11:37 - About how turning three years old is an important milestone for a boy and about the tradition of introducing a child to the alef-bais that day. About the custom of putting candy and honey on the letters to introduce learning as a joy.
00:15:11 - About the significance of the khumesh ceremony as an educational milestone. (When young boys are considered old enough for formal study of the Torah [Five Books of Moses])
00:17:11 - About there being no co-ed schools. Girls also learn khumesh but don't go on to study Talmud. About how girls have a more important role to play than "the future fathers." Most religious teaching of children is by women in the home.
00:20:20 - About the importance of teaching children to care about other people.
Collection
Subject
Duration
00:23:09 (HH:MM:SS)
Language:
English
Copyright Date
1997
Rights Declaration:
This recording is protected by copyright. You are free to view it but not download it. Please contact the Brooklyn College Archives for further information about how you may use this recording.
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https://54098.surd9.group/show.php?pid=njcore:194877
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pid=njcore:194877
PID
njcore:194877
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