Hasidic Jews in Williamsburg
from suburbs to shtetl
Williamsburg
Migration of Hasidic Jews
• 1638: Dutch West India Company purchases area from Native
Americans .
• 1802 real estate mogul Richard M. Woodhull acquires 13 acres of
what would become metropolitan Ave. Jonathan Williams
surveys the property and the area is renamed Williamsburg in his
honor.
• 1827: “Village of Williamsburg incorporated into the town of
Bushwick
• 1840: Williamsburg separates itself from the Town of Bushwick
• 1852: Due to rapid increase in economy and population
Williamsburg's is official gains the status of “city
• 1855: City of Williamsburg and the surrounding towns annexed
itself to the City of Brooklyn.
• 1898: Brooklyn official becomes part of New York City
• 1903: Williamsburg bridge opens.
Migration cont
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1903-1920: Due to easy access to lower
Manhattan the population size doubles.
Immigrants from Lithuania, Poland,
Russia, Italy, and Jews from all over
Europe flock to Williamsburg in search
of prosperity.
1945: After World War II Jewish
refugees migrated to Brooklyn mostly
Hasidic Jews which were devastated
from the holocaust. The area south of
Division Ave is home to a large
population of adherents to the Satmar
Hasidic sect.
To date there are over 60,000 Satmar
Hasidic living in Williamsburg, as the
community continues building
apartments on the fringe of
Williamsburg, and has reclaimed
housing in areas once considered
blighted real estate.
Hasidic Jews
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Hasidic Jews separate
themselves ideologically and
physically.
The movement originated in
eastern Europe about 1750.
Today Hasidic Jews claim to be the
keepers of authentic Judaism.
Hasidic Jews speak mostly Yiddish
9 Major Hasidic Groups; 30 minor
groups.
Sabbath is strictly observed
(Shabbos).
Hasidic Male dress
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Many Hasidism believe dress
has Judaic concepts.
Overcoats, pant, shoes mostly
black or navy, tucked in
pants so that it does not touch
the floor.
On Sabbath Rabbis where
white bekishe (look like
robes)
Right over left button
Hair not to be removed from
side “Peyes” first hair cut at
the age of three
Hasidic Women Dress
• Long conservative
Skirts, sleeves past
elbows and knees
• Most cannot wear red
clothing
• Cover hair with wigs
(sheitels)
• Satmar shave heads
and wear s head
kerchiefs
Family
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Hasidic families are male headed
they produce up to 7.9 children
according to a birth rate census
www.aish.com
Troublemakers run the risk of
public shaming
The Hasidic community of
Williamsburg typically celebrates
eight to ten Sholom zochors (male
births) and the same number of
female births every week.
Couples should be around the same age
when they marry (stress the holiness of
sex)
Education
• 1953 Satmar Rav Joel Teitelbaum founded his day
school Yeshivas and Girls schools
• Omnipresence of God
• Communion between God and man.
• Authoritive figures are not to be questioned.
Business
• Shopping areas in Williamsburg continue to
grow.
• Jews and non-Jews come all over the world to
shop at these centers Kosher Items
• Kosher Hotel “The Avenue Plaza Hotel” in Boro
park.
• In some hardware shops spiritual ritual baths
are given in order to advertise.
Community