I wonder if that's partly a sign of how comfortable the community (meaning this particular Hassidic community, but also the Jewish community at large) feels in North America today. And really, fundamentalism is the same no matter where in the world or what particular god it worships.
I find the general trend in Hasidic communities to try to control the greater community in which they live extremely disturbing and fundamentally against everything I've ever been taught about Judaism. I've heard similar examples for elsewhere in the US (sorry, can't think of details right now).
BTW, Tablet just ran a story on shabbat enforcers in pre-war Warsaw, who were actually quite public in their actions. Although aimed exclusively at Jews and not the general population, but since their actions often led to public scenes and arrests, it's in a similar vein. It's at http://www.tabletmag.com/life-...
I wonder if that's partly a sign of how comfortable the community (meaning this particular Hassidic community, but also the Jewish community at large) feels in North America today. And really, fundamentalism is the same no matter where in the world or what particular god it worships.
I find the general trend in Hasidic communities to try to control the greater community in which they live extremely disturbing and fundamentally against everything I've ever been taught about Judaism. I've heard similar examples for elsewhere in the US (sorry, can't think of details right now).
BTW, Tablet just ran a story on shabbat enforcers in pre-war Warsaw, who were actually quite public in their actions. Although aimed exclusively at Jews and not the general population, but since their actions often led to public scenes and arrests, it's in a similar vein. It's at http://www.tabletmag.com/life-...