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 2)
Terms you may encounter:
Daven: Pray.
Minhah: Daily afternoon liturgy.
Minyan: The quorum of ten men required for communal worship in traditional Judaism
Tallis: Prayer shawl
Tish: “Table,” a gathering of disciples around their rebbe
00:00:02 - Interview with Arthur Hertzberg: About how the Hasidim chose their way of life at the expense of denying their children the full range of opportunities offered by America. About Hasidic rejection of new technology, mass media.
00:04:33 - A Hasidic story about the Kotsker Rebbe.
00:05:24 - About how it is hard for Hasidim to move away from changing communities as individuals. About how it is normal in the history of religion for there to be friction between a sect and members of other persuasions. A story about Hungarian Hasidim and refugees during World War I.
00:09:37 - About how Hasidim believe that their devotion to God will bring them a place in "the world to come."
00:11:09 - About how Hasidim enjoy the security of a life with meaning, role models, community. America itself is looking for meaning. On the role of the Rebbe as opposed to Jewish leaders of other denominations. About the tension between being Jewish and being American. About the tension between Judaism and relativism.
00:15:24 - About a contract his grandfather made with his wife: he would learn (study Talmud)and she would earn a living, in exchange for half of his place in the world to come. About how he didn't remain Hasidic largely because he received a Western education.
00:18:20 - About how when he goes to Hasidic events he is both a participant and an observer, both inside and outside. A story about worshiping in the Belzer Rebbe's yeshiva.
00:20:46 - About lineage as providing status within Hasidism. About how outsiders see Hasidic women.
Interview with scholar Arthur Hertzberg. (Part 2)
Terms you may encounter:
Daven: Pray.
Minhah: Daily afternoon liturgy.
Minyan: The quorum of ten men required for communal worship in traditional Judaism
Tallis: Prayer shawl
Tish: “Table,” a gathering of disciples around their rebbe
00:00:02 - Interview with Arthur Hertzberg: About how the Hasidim chose their way of life at the expense of denying their children the full range of opportunities offered by America. About Hasidic rejection of new technology, mass media.
00:04:33 - A Hasidic story about the Kotsker Rebbe.
00:05:24 - About how it is hard for Hasidim to move away from changing communities as individuals. About how it is normal in the history of religion for there to be friction between a sect and members of other persuasions. A story about Hungarian Hasidim and refugees during World War I.
00:09:37 - About how Hasidim believe that their devotion to God will bring them a place in "the world to come."
00:11:09 - About how Hasidim enjoy the security of a life with meaning, role models, community. America itself is looking for meaning. On the role of the Rebbe as opposed to Jewish leaders of other denominations. About the tension between being Jewish and being American. About the tension between Judaism and relativism.
00:15:24 - About a contract his grandfather made with his wife: he would learn (study Talmud)and she would earn a living, in exchange for half of his place in the world to come. About how he didn't remain Hasidic largely because he received a Western education.
00:18:20 - About how when he goes to Hasidic events he is both a participant and an observer, both inside and outside. A story about worshiping in the Belzer Rebbe's yeshiva.
00:20:46 - About lineage as providing status within Hasidism. About how outsiders see Hasidic women.
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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njcore:194939
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