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Interview with Mr. Naiman (2)/Interview with Zeldy (1)
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 Mr. Naiman, a Ger Hasid. (Part 1) Interview with storekeeper Zeldy Abramowitz, a Satmar Hasid, in her store. (Part I)

Terms you may encounter:
Koysl: The Western Wall, in Jerusalem, the holiest site in Judaism
Shiva: Traditional seven-day period of mourning the death of a family member
Tish: “Table,” a gathering of disciples around their rebbe
Yuntef: Holiday

00:00:30 - Interview with Mr. Naiman: About the different stages for Hasidim earning a living. First generations had trouble finding a job that would let them take off for Shabbos. Poverty. The last 30 years have brought a great change, more opportunities. Thinks it's due to outreach by Hasidim.

00:04:35 - About how it's still hard for Hasidic men to earn a living, because of lack of English skills and how the Hasidic community needs to provide a better secular education. About how young Hasidic men don't know enough about running a business, financing, etc. About the risks for young women who work outside the community.

00:07:59 - About how the Hasidic community in the last few years have organized themselves to vote as a bloc and this has given them political leverage. About how now Hasidic men have jobs in city government.

00:09:50 - About Hasidic self-help, such as the Hatzolah ambulance corps, organizations that provide food for Shabbos, organizing visits to the sick, enlisting teenagers as volunteers. More shots of photos of Mr. Naiman with poltical figures, such as Bill Clinton, Rudy Giuliani, Ronald Reagan. Naiman with the Gerer Rebbe. Family pictures.

00:14:52 - (Partial audio) Inside Zeldy's clothing store: customers, woman talking on the phone to someone in Israel (in English and Yiddish). Interview with Zeldy: about girls' school uniforms she sells and compares the length of the skirts with those of Catholic schools. She discusses tsnies (modesty). How she got into her line of business and how she balances it with child care.
Collection
Duration
00:22:47 (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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PID
njcore:194884