Chabad hipsters explained

Chabad hipsters (or hipster Hasidim) are the cross-acculturated members of the Chabad Hasidic community and contemporary hipster subculture. Beginning from the late 2000s through the 2010s, a minor trend of cross acculturation of Chabad Hasidism and hipster subculture appeared within the New York Jewish community. The first printed reference to this trend was the 2007 New York Press cover story, "Hipster Hassids" by Alyssa Pinsker.[1] Later, according to The Jewish Daily Forward, a significant number of members of the Chabad Hasidic community, mostly residing in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, appear to now have adopted various cultural affinities of the local hipster subculture.[2] [3]

Background

Cultural similarities between some of the Hasidic community's members and New York City hipsters were noted on blogs such as Hasid or Hipster (inspired in part by the art of Elke Reva Sudin).[2] [4]

According to The Jewish Daily Forward, a number of members of the Crown Heights Chabad community, all while adhering to the norms of Orthodox dress codes, have incorporated contemporary fashion as a part of their daily appearance.

Similarly, The New York Times noted that some New York hipsters appeared to be appropriating local Chabad Hasidic fashion by wearing black fedora hats. Some hipsters reported purchasing their headwear from Hasidic shops in Brooklyn.[5] [6] Closely associated with the adoption of the "black hat", the preference for long skirts by female hipsters in New York are believed to be partly inspired by the fashion of Hasidic women.[7]

Chabad fashion designers Mimi Hecht and Mushky Notik who started their Mimu Maxi[8] brand in the summer of 2013, originally with the Hasidic female community in mind, but soon the brand had gained a broader, loyal following. The pair has been referred to as "Hasidic Hipsters" on social media, and they have responded positively to that label.[9]

One Crown Heights resident established an eatery called "Hasid+Hipster". The eatery serves artisanal dishes while adhering to the laws of Kashrut. The owner, Yuda Schlass, told The New York Jewish Week "Me, myself, as much as I'm chasidic, I'm also hipster".[10] [11] [12] "Mason and Mug", a similarly styled "kosher-artisanal" restaurant was established in Crown Heights/Prospect Heights.[10] [13]

Chabad hipster musicians, such as Moshe Hecht and DeScribe, have fused Jewish themes and contemporary music styles and genres.[14] Similarly, the band Zusha, often described as Hasidic hipsters, mixes contemporary musical styles like folk, jazz, and reggae with the wordless vocals of traditional Hasidic songs (known as niggunim). The group cites as a spiritual advisor Rabbi Dov Yonah Korn of New York City's East Village Chabad House.[15] [16]

Chabad on Campus rabbi Simcha Weinstein, whose activities are based at Pratt Institute, has been termed one of "New York's Hippest Rabbis".[17] [18]

Outreach

Chabad emissaries operating in "hipster neighborhoods" have sought to reach out to Jewish hipsters and encourage them to perform traditional Jewish rituals and commandments (or mitzvahs). One event, titled "Unite the Beards", with the stated aim of "bridging the two communities", was organized by Chabad emissaries in Brooklyn.[19] [20] [21] [22]

Chabad emissaries have established centers and organized services and events for young unaffiliated Jews in Dumbo, Williamsburg/Greenpoint, Fort Greene/Clinton Hill, Carroll Gardens and Prospect Heights.[23]

"Hipster synagogues"

The Soho Synagogue, established by Chabad emissaries in SoHo, Manhattan, was often branded as a "hipster synagogue."[24] The synagogue was housed in a former "chic clothing store."[25] It closed down after failing to keep up financially.

Chabad of Bucktown-Wicker Park has been noted as the synagogue of one of "America’s Best Hipster Neighborhoods." The Chabad house attracts a number of local Jews to services and events.[26]

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.nypress.com/news/hipster-hassids-NYNP1020070613306139990 Hipster Hassids
  2. Greenfield, Nicole. ."Birth of Hipster Hasidism?" Religion Dispatches. University of Southern Carolina. February 2, 2012
  3. Nussbaum-Cohen, Debra. "Of Hasids, Hipsters, and Hipster Hasids." The Jewish Daily Forward. January 26, 2012.
  4. http://hasidorhipster.tumblr.com/ Hasid or Hipster
  5. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/fashion/01noticed.html "Culture-Hopping in a Fedora."
  6. Web site: "Hipsters Embrace Hasidic Headwear." Hat Life. Volume 6, Newsletter 10. May 11, 2011. . October 6, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006142210/http://www.hatlife.com/newsletters/2011/may11_1/art7.htm . October 6, 2014 . dead .
  7. Tracy, Marc. "Chabad chic." Tablet Magazine. May 3, 2011.
  8. http://www.mimumaxi.com/ Mimu Maxi
  9. Basu, Tanya. "How the Internet Made Modest Fashion Cool". The Atlantic. February 27, 2015.
  10. Chernikoff, Helen. "Hipster And/Or Chasid? Grab lunch or dinner at Brooklyn's latest chic kosher food venture". The Big Apple. The Jewish Week. January 28, 2014.
  11. Sharp, Sonja. "Kosher Pop Up Serves Artisanal Sandwiches to Crown Heights Crowd". DNAinfo.com. December 6, 2013.
  12. http://www.crownheights.info/crown-heights-news/416672/crown-heights-pop-up-offers-kosher-bacon-sandwiches/ "Crown Heights Pop Up Offers Kosher Bacon Sandwiches".
  13. http://www.jspacefood.com/hassidhipster-brings-foodie-kosher-pop-crown-heights/ "Hassid+Hipster Brings Foodie Kosher Pop-Up To Crown Heights".
  14. Elstein Keisler, Max. "Monday Music: Orthodox Hipster Hip-Hop at CMJ." The Jewish Daily Forward.
  15. http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2014/12/19/hasidic-hipster-band-zusha-hopes-to-bring-people-all-faiths-closer-to-god/ "hasidic hipster band zusha hopes to bring people all faiths closer to god."
  16. http://www.huffpost.com/us/entry/6043368 "The Hasidic Hipsters Of Zusha Are Here To Rock The World Of Jewish Music."
  17. http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/2011/09/too-cool-for-shul-high-holidays-with-nycs-hippest-rabbis/ "Too cool for shul: High Holidays with NYCs hippest rabbis."
  18. "Pratt's Rabbi Simcha Among NYC's Hippest Rabbis". Chabad on Campus. Wednesday, September 28, 2011.
  19. Hoffman, Meredith. "'Unite the Beards' Campaign Connects Hipsters to Hasids." DNAinfo.com May 21, 2013.
  20. http://11213.org/2013/05/19/hasid-hipster-unite-the-beards/ Hasid-hipster. Unite the beards."
  21. http://www.gothamist.com/2013/05/23/video_hasidics_are_trying_to_woo_br.php Hasidics are trying to woo hipsters one beard at a time."
  22. Kilgannon, Corey."With Whiskers in Common, Hasidim Court Hipsters." The New York Times. May 22, 2013.
  23. Bell, Kaitlin. "A Brooklyn Mitzvah: Converting the Hipsters." The New York Observer. November 2, 2008.
  24. Web site: Liebman . Shana . SoHo Synagogue - Orthodoxy for the Hipster Set . Nymag.com . 2005-05-21 . 2012-01-26.
  25. Roberts, Yael. "Searching for Sacred Space." The Beacon Magazine. April 2, 2012.
  26. Sugar, Yehuda. "Rabbi Finds Home in One of America’s Trendiest Neighborhoods". Chabad.org. October 25, 2012.