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 scholar Arthur Hertzberg. (Part 1)
00:00:06 - Interview with Arthur Hertzberg: Ancedotes and stories about the idea of America as a "treyfeh medina." About his relative, the Munkacs Rebbe, holding this view. About the reaction of his family when they were reunited with his father, a Belzer Hasid, at Ellis Island.
00:06:05 - There was no real Hasidic presence in America until World War II.
00:07:16 - About how previously most Jews who came to America accepted the idea of Americanization. Examples: Young Israel, Yeshiva University. An example from his hometown Baltimore. Immigrants came as individuals, not as communities.
00:10:03 - About how the Satmar and Lubavitch Rebbes came with remnants of their communities.
00:10:59 - About the differences between pre-World War II Jewish immigration and the immigration of Jews after the war. They came seeking religious freedom. About how they transformed American Orthodox Judaism and shifted it to the right.
00:14:12 - Compares American Hasidim to the Mayflower pilgrims, to the Amish. Hasidim as "urban Puritans." About Hasidim having a different immigration narrative than Jews descending from earlier waves of Jewish immigrants.
00:16:55 - About Hasidim not considering themselves as Americans, but as living in America. They belong to Hasidism, as the Pope belongs to Catholicism. The differences between the way Hasidim consider themselves Americans and how non-Hasidic Jews consider themselves Americans.
00:20:01 - More examples of how Hasidim haven't Americanized. About Haisidim in Brooklyn delivering a bloc vote.
Interview with scholar Arthur Hertzberg. (Part 1)
00:00:06 - Interview with Arthur Hertzberg: Ancedotes and stories about the idea of America as a "treyfeh medina." About his relative, the Munkacs Rebbe, holding this view. About the reaction of his family when they were reunited with his father, a Belzer Hasid, at Ellis Island.
00:06:05 - There was no real Hasidic presence in America until World War II.
00:07:16 - About how previously most Jews who came to America accepted the idea of Americanization. Examples: Young Israel, Yeshiva University. An example from his hometown Baltimore. Immigrants came as individuals, not as communities.
00:10:03 - About how the Satmar and Lubavitch Rebbes came with remnants of their communities.
00:10:59 - About the differences between pre-World War II Jewish immigration and the immigration of Jews after the war. They came seeking religious freedom. About how they transformed American Orthodox Judaism and shifted it to the right.
00:14:12 - Compares American Hasidim to the Mayflower pilgrims, to the Amish. Hasidim as "urban Puritans." About Hasidim having a different immigration narrative than Jews descending from earlier waves of Jewish immigrants.
00:16:55 - About Hasidim not considering themselves as Americans, but as living in America. They belong to Hasidism, as the Pope belongs to Catholicism. The differences between the way Hasidim consider themselves Americans and how non-Hasidic Jews consider themselves Americans.
00:20:01 - More examples of how Hasidim haven't Americanized. About Haisidim in Brooklyn delivering a bloc vote.
Collection
Subject
Duration
00:22:20 (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:194931
Metadata