« 73 Pineapple Gets Unanimous Thumbs-Up at LPC Open House of the Day, 8/31/07: Six Months Later »
February 22, 2008
Catching Up on the Bedford Avenue Building Boom
In recent years, the Orthodox community that has traditionally lived in South Williamsburg has expanded south into parts of Bed Stuy and Clinton Hill. Nowhere is this building boom more obvious than on Bedford Avenue between Willoughby and Flushing, where eight buildings (by our count) are currently under construction or reaching completion. And, by and large, they're pretty fugly. GMAP
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.brownstoner.com/mte/mt-tb.cgi/3915
Comments
Why do we let stuff like this get built?
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 11:23 AM
this is surprising because we all know the orthodox community has always been known for its fabulous style.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 11:26 AM
Those are some ugly buildings. To answer 11:23's question, "we" have no control over what gets built, because "we" don't own that land. Google property rights if you're still confused about your role in what others do with their property.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 11:27 AM
A real shame. Missed opportunities. These neighborhoods will forever be marked by these ugly, ugly buildings. And don't jump all over me about cost and elitism. Buildings can be built economically with a sense of proportion and integrity -- look at some of the ideas for temporary Katrina housing.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 11:27 AM
Not to pick at a scab, but do the people who opposed the AIA-proposed text amendment really think that the third building (the only one that is a corner lot) is better because it does not fill the full lot?
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 11:30 AM
Numbers 2,3 and 5 look they might have some promise. Is 5 actually a brand new building? It looks like the base belongs to an older and attractive structure.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 11:30 AM
Meant number 3...is that a new building, or an addition/rehab of an old building?
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 11:32 AM
Oh please - every building except #6 is nicer then the existing buildings shown in the photos. (although #8 you cant tell yet)
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 11:41 AM
Can they stop it with those balconys already geeze. It's like they're all reading one "how to" book and I see now the "fedders cut outs" chapter has been removed.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 11:44 AM
I ride down this street every day on my way to work. The third building is actually pretty nice - trim and details are rare in new buildings in this neighborhood. I think it will look okay in the end.
As far as the porches, I think it's part of the religion. There's a festival every year where everyone has to set up an outdoor hut. For a weekend, all the porches are built up with temporary shelters. Therefore, every apartment needs a little outdoor space, even if it's only a 2x4' porch.
As someone who really likes looking at graceful architecture, I cringe and get sad every time I bike through this neighborhood. It's pretty depressing. It's just not a culture that puts much value into aesthetics.
Posted by: madison_st at February 22, 2008 11:57 AM
aren't the orthodox kind of like the shakers? they don't believe in excessive adornment. does that have an effect on the types of buildings they put up?
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 12:00 PM
If this type of building means everyone else will stay away and leave them alone then its a positive.
Only thing that really bugs me is allowing balconies without a setback from the street. Sidewalks are a limited commodity in the city and should be protected.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 12:05 PM
#11:44 - i think they need to be able to go outside for some of the religious stuff.
and, yes, they eschew aesthetic considerations as they consider them to be frivolous.
on the whole, to me, i'd rather see a vibrant community with people conducting their lives than vacant, ghetto like spaces.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 12:06 PM
The buildings are fugly and when the community moves on in a decade or two, these monsters will be torn down and replaced by fugly condos.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 12:10 PM
Yeah, I think certain sects of Judaism really avoid adornment. With the exception of meticulously combed fur hats. It really varies by the group. I don't know the specific sect that's in Williamsburg / Bedstuy. According to Wikipedia, they're from the Satmar sect.
I teach animation, and once had a young orthodox Jew sit in on one of my classes. He really wanted to get into animation, but his religion wouldn't allow him to draw figural art. I had to tell him that it would be pretty tough to animate without drawing figural things. Quite a sad moment. I think drawing non-realistic cartoon characters might be a grey area? Anyways, yes, there are definite rules about art and design for some sects of Judaism.
Posted by: madison_st at February 22, 2008 12:11 PM
No - we're not like the Shakers. What the Williamsburg community is building are large spacious no frills apartments because that's what the prospective tenants need and can afford. They care little about the appearance of the buildings. The balconies are for succahs, as was pointed out in an earlier comment.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 12:13 PM
Isn't this the very (etymological) definition of a "ghetto"??
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 12:17 PM
What about the metal cages/bars built around windows in a ton of buildings in that neighborhood. I understand the succah thing, but that doesn't explain the plethora of bars/cages built around windows, not balconies/terraces. Does anyone know why they're there?
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 12:18 PM
12:10 I assure you that the Williamsburgh Chassidic community will not "move on in a decade or 2" They are here to stay and have invested in numerous religious buildings and schools in the area. They will remain in Williamsbugh long after the hipsters are gone and forgotten.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 12:19 PM
#12:18 the balconies are for the people to sit outside - read above - google "succah"
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 12:22 PM
large and spacious and no frills doesn't have to mean no thought is given whatsoever to appearance. i still say it's partially a regligious thing...you know all that holier than thou stuff...we don't believe in the vanity of the human world...etc. etc....
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 12:24 PM
12:22, I know what a succah is. My question was about the balcony-less windows. If you walk around that neigborhood you see plenty of buildings with giant cages around every single window in the building. That is what I'm asking about.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 12:39 PM
Yet these buildings are nicer then the older buildings surrounding them - seems like we are moving in the right direction.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 12:47 PM
A friend suggested that the cages are to prevent little kids from falling out of the windows. Every family has a bunch of kids and I guess they're concerned about safety. Also, I've seen little kids sitting in the cages reading or hanging out, so maybe it doubles as a place to stick a kid when you want it to get fresh air but you don't have time to go the park.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 12:48 PM
the cages are to prevent the young from escaping.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 12:48 PM
"the cages are to prevent the young from escaping."
Interesting metaphor for their culture...
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 12:57 PM
The cages are also often littered with junk. I saw a plastic Playskool type tricycle hanging out of one last year. These people need to stop shooting out 8 kids per household and putting up this crap to house them. Regardless of your religious beliefs that behavior is sickening and these places suck.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 1:04 PM
1:04 a truely classy comment, anti semitism is a lovely thing. we will stop trying to "shoot" these things out, if it sickens you so much. you can go to the middle east, they have done a pretty good job of wiping out the jewish populations that have existed there for thousands of years, or perhaps mississippi where there are more dumbf**ks as yourself
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 1:28 PM
1:04, popping out offspring--as many as is humanly possible--is these folks' raison d'etre. I recently read in the Times that many Hasidim are dismayed these days because the average output per family has plunged--to six.
On the lighter side, while these folks' facial expressions generally range from dour to scowling, it's fun to realize that they are boinking bareback like bunnies, day-in, day-out.
I wonder if, under their crazy, strict rules, they are allowed to enjoy it? :)
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 1:32 PM
I'm not-antisemetic in the least, 1:28. I am simply anti anyone who feels the need to continue to overpopulate the earth for their own selfish reasons, religious or otherwise. The same applies to all creeds, ethnicities, and races. This is not dust bowl era Nebraska where you need ten children to help run the farm. This is modern, urban America and some traditions just need to evolve to meet the times.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 1:33 PM
It is not anti-Semetic to hate fugly buildings.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 1:35 PM
What bothers me about certain Chassidic sects is that the kids (especially the girls) learn to speak a mangled Yiddish (Yinglish), which makes it very difficult to leave (or escape) the sect.
And if you do decide to leave the sect, you are persona non grata. I'm not talking about leaving Judaism, I'm talking about leaving the sect (sect is a polite word for cult).
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 1:40 PM
who cares, their girls are hottt!!!
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 1:45 PM
Next time I see a Hasidic dude, I'm gonna high-five him for all the hot action he's getting. You go, Schlomo!
Then again, he has to live with six (minimum) brats all around him.
Is it true about the mangled Yiddish? That's fascinating (and creepy). Although it seems kind of a leap to infer that a dialect is used for the purpose of trapping kids in the sect/cult, no?
PS Every religion is a cult. They're all the same, except some have cooler hats.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 1:51 PM
you can tell a building inhabited by hasids a mile away. ugly little balconies with gates and otherwise non-descript. the reason for the balconies matters little to me, just wonder why they can't make the effort to have them look a little nicer. ugh.
Posted by: North Sleeper at February 22, 2008 1:54 PM
Wonder if anybody has made a Hasidic-themed porno?
"Diddler on the Roof," anyone?
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 1:54 PM
How can apartments restrict different races from applying? Please explain.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 1:55 PM
For starters, you can advertise the apartments' availability solely in Yiddish, and only in your sect's publications.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 2:07 PM
Blacks, Hispanics, Asians probably even Amish - the Brownstoners love 'em - got to have that diversity man, makes Brooklyn interesting etc, etc, etc,
Yet the Jews - they are "sickening" and build ugly buildings.
Nope - no anti-semitism here
oh and BTW 1:04 Western Societies are not "overpopulating" the world - in fact they are declining (U.S. would be flat but for immigration) - we NEED more kids - who the hell do you think is going to support all the entitlements you are expecting when you hit 62?
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 2:11 PM
I saw a mom run over one of her own kids with a giant double wide stroller in Target the other day. Good thing she has the other five kids to take up the slack.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 2:17 PM
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum
If I were a wealthy man!
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 2:28 PM
I really enjoy having the Hasidim around-- I think they're interesting and add enormously to the character of NYC.
But I hate passionately the hideous buildings they build. Near-permanent scars on communities. It's sad and a waste, and it degrades the value of other peoples' property. Selfish, insular, arrogant and wrong.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 2:33 PM
Is it anti-Semitism to have issues with Hasidim, in particular the Satmar? They're a xenophobic, cloistered, racist backward group who trample women's rights and, by the way, can't deal with non-Satmar Jews. And, their buildings are ugly! Give me a break, no one has to tolerate the kind of intolerance literally bred by these people.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 2:33 PM
Intolerance towards intolerance? I think there is koan hidden here somewhere....
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 2:40 PM
I wouldn't worry about the Hassidim overpopulating the world. The couples in brownstone neighborhoods are contributing less than the 2 children needed to replenish the population. And think about all of the gays who contribute nothing to the population. Let them be fruitful and multiply and polulate Williamsburg. Why anyone else would want to live their is beyond me.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 2:44 PM
how is it that brooklyn blogs tend to descend into jew bashing and it's all good all day..let's poke some fun at the fags and their aberrant behavior, and the way they tend to keep others out of their communities.. no, no, that is not with the liberal agenda, and besides they have good taste.jew bashing good, gay bashing bad. the chassidic community doesnt't speak up because they could give a damn what others think of them, the rest of the multicultural love fest feels sorry for themselves,and is hypersensitive. sorry to break up the fun, you may continue..
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 2:47 PM
2:11
Stop taking me out of context. I said Hasiidic procreation habits are sickening, not the people. It's a good thing that Western society is not contributing to the overpopulation of the world. It should stay that way but it's nice to see that you are are singlehandedly doing your part to try and buck that trend. Very noble indeed. I will be able to take care of myself in retirement without the help of your offspring so don't crank them out for my benefit.
As far as your dwellings go, well, they are ugly as sin and you will not find a single person here who disagrees with that statement.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 3:04 PM
2:33 i believe that's what anti semitism is..there are plenty of other xenophobic, cloistered and rascist people you can hate ie. farakan and his posse, the radical islamic groups to name just a few, but you picked the group that is least likely to cause physical harm to you, as well as supplying u with all of your photography needs(B&H photo) and large % of the diamonds that come into this country among many other contributions. so yes you are an anti-semite.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 3:06 PM
Love your post 2:23:
Line 1="I really enjoy having the Hasidim around"
Line 2="it's sad and a waste, and it degrades the value of other peoples' property. Selfish, insular, arrogant and wrong."
Yeah yeah I know your ONLY talking about their architecture sure, sure (btw - never heard of insular architecture)
And then you have 2:23 - "Is it anti-Semitism to have issues with Hasidim, in particular the Satmar? They're a xenophobic, cloistered, racist backward group who trample women's rights"
And this is different from the "culture" of the Blacks, Hispanics, Italians and Asians in many homogeneous brooklyn neighborhoods how???
When you have the courage to start posting like this - I can't stand those Brownsville Blacks, they are insular and racist, have no respect for women and turn their homes and cars into eyesores with their ghetto style -
then I'll say your not anti-semitic, until then - STFU
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 3:11 PM
What about the skyCrapper on St Marks and Franklin. Isnt that a "succah" free building?
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 3:11 PM
Hasidim, but I don't believe 'em. --Paulie Walnuts (Sorry, I can't help myself. It's one of my favorite lines from The Sopranos.)
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 3:14 PM
"brownsville blacks" Wow
I cant believe how disgusting you are 3:11 you are really trying your best to divert the attention on the topic by pulling in muslims,blacks and the whole middle east? The fact still remains the groups your mentioning are not building shitty ass buildings. Just the greedy ones in your posse.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 3:22 PM
Yes 2:23, how dare you suggest Hasidim are insular. I'm sure 3:11 would be happy, no THRILLED if his little girl brought home a mixed ethnic background Italian/black/Hispanic man to marry. After all you see Hasidim marrying Italians, blacks, Asians and Hispanics ALL the time...
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 3:28 PM
Definitely not Shaker. Shakers were celibate. Traditional Jewish law grants a wife the right to sex at least once a week, and it doesn't count if they don't both enjoy it.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 3:28 PM
3:11 disgusting? sounds rational to me..brownsville blacks.. we can't call a spade a spade, but a kike..go for it. because they are the greedy ones that are building non -aesthetically pleasing buildings to house their children. that sounds more logical to me 3:22
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 3:28 PM
we should all wear skinny pants and remain sterile and build pretty buildings! yay
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 3:31 PM
I think other Orthodox groups really go for over the top architecture, with lots of adornment, particularly in the Med. style. Not just the Sephardim in Gravesend, but also some Ashkenazi in Borough Park and Midwood. Lots of marble, lots of detail. Attractive, if not cutting edge, synogogues. But these are clearly people with money. Although I don't get the impression that if Satmar's had the cold cash, they'd spend it on architecture. Their houses of worship are pretty horrible looking, too.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 3:34 PM
Seems like 3:28 gets the point - its not that you can't (generalize and) call Hasidim insular (or frankly as far as I'm concerned anything else you want)
its that it is blatantly anti-semitic (or racist or homophobic) when your generalizations are focused on a single group and your have a visceral reaction only to the behavior of that one group.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 3:41 PM
I mean you have people here who have a problem with the accent/English that some Hasidim use (1:40).
When was the last time someone here (or anywhere) said something like - "I really have a problem with the Blacks, they don't teach there kids proper English just that ghetto english/ebonics, and then they can't integrate into mainstream society."
Please tell me what the difference between the above statement is and 1:40's post?
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 3:47 PM
3:28 My fog lights can see right through your smoke screen and I see that our race card is almost maxed out.. What next?
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 3:48 PM
Lots of kids on welfare. That will help the aging wage earners for sure.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 3:59 PM
should the hasid who keeps on telling ppl to stfu even be on this site? after all, it's not devoted to G-D's word, is it???
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 4:03 PM
3:59 You're wrong about "lots of children on welfare" if you're refering to the hasids. I worked with welfare for over 30 years and found very few of them on welfare. The vast majority on welfare in NYC are Black and Hispanic. Nationwide, the majority on welfare are white born in America.
From what little about them that I know, they pay taxes that go for schools, but do not use city schools.
Retired welfare worker
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 4:11 PM
Yes you're right 4:03 but since it's devoted to cash there's an exception :)
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 4:13 PM
I was just thinking about genocide, wondering if it could ever happen in the US. It occurred to me that, if it does, it would probably be launched by anonymous comment pages on blogs. This place brings out the worst part of human nature. I'm going to go read about plaster repair techniques... from a book.
Posted by: madison_st at February 22, 2008 4:13 PM
These are what one would call, the brutalist style. No regard for aesthetics, it's pure form follows function in this community. A sort of planned obsolesence in architecture.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 4:14 PM
Let me tell you that as young white woman living in Billyburg, I don't worry and cross the street when I see a group of hassidic teenagers late at night. That's more than I can say about teenagers from some other ethnic group. They are harmless and add to the neighborhood colour.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 4:23 PM
I'm the one who told you anti-semitic losers to STFU yet I'm not even Jewish but you got to love 4:13s post - wonder if you make jokes about Blacks loving Watermelon too.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 4:24 PM
4:23 - WHICH ethnic group?? - why are you shy? apparently its okay and not racist to discuss your issues with various ethnic groups here.....
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 4:26 PM
4:11, How do you know how many and what kinds of people in any given hood are receiving welfare? Are you at every single location at all times? Did you scan welfare rolls looking for data on ethnicity? Though more whites nationally are on welfare and a large number welfare recipients in NYC are of people of color, I don't knwo how you would know that most hasids do not collect welfare. btw: one one person in the family would collect. Their kids don't get a check.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 4:30 PM
BTW I don't even care that your racist or anti-semitic; I just can't stand the TOTAL B.S. pseudo enlightened liberalism that pervades Brownstoner and the condescending and arrogant way in which it is expressed on virtually every topic - I already knew deep down you hated the Jews (and really way down past the guilt - the Blacks and Hispanics too)
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 4:33 PM
lol "I know deep down you hate jews" lol
Dont try and group us " blacks and Hispanics" into your mess.
The structures are butt fucking ugly period
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 4:47 PM
4:11 I spent years in every welfare office in NYC including those that service the Williamsburg zip codes, processed thousands of housing applications, made countless home visits to welfare recipients throughout the city. I know the population and the city very well. There are no checks, but electronic payments for entire households. Beleive me, a very small percentage of these people that are being disparaged receive welfare. Let me add, that dispite the popular misconception - illegal aliens receive no benefits other than emergency medical care.
Retired welfare worker
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 4:53 PM
I almost hate to sully myself with this whole thread, but just for the record, when I became a cop in 1982, we were given stats to show how many of us had preconceived biases that had no basis in reality. One of the things that came up was that the orthodox Jewish community in 1982 had the highest per capita rate of being on public assistance. No one in the class had guessed that, instead focusing on Blacks or Hispanics. I can't speak for stats later than that, nor could I even prove the city's figures at the time, but that is the figure that the city was providing. It is also interesting to note that if you check the voter rolls, many of the dorms for local Yeshivas list literally hundreds of occupants for small two or three story houses. As in any insular community, the potential for fraud is enormous. The community is going to bond together and stonewall any outsiders who they perceive as going after one of their own.
Bottom line, some Hasidics Jews are scumbuckets, but then again, so are some Italians, Irish, Blacks, Asians, etc. As far as ugly architecture, They certainly don't hold exclusive rights. Drive through Bensonhurst someday.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 5:19 PM
So...a Satmar can think a non-Hared Israeli Jew should be killed, and can even go so far as to fund/support the Palestinian groups who do that. Yet, it is anti-Semitic to criticize the Satmar community. I think people are confused today about what tolerance really means. And some Jews are too sensitive about criticism of any Jew, even members of a ridiculous and, in terms of modern standards of morality, despicable community.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 5:52 PM
Not only does the hassidic community receive welfare on a large scale, but also subsidized housing and preferrential treatment in medicaid programs. You can get those perks too if you can make 30 thousand or so people vote like clones at the wave of a hand. People, ironically, who have no particular allegiance to this nation whatsoever.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 6:39 PM
The buildings are still fugly. Fugly, fugly, fugly.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 6:43 PM
To return to the subject of interest to all: with all the bulk in these buildings can anyone tell me: are these apartments affordable?
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 7:25 PM
Hasideous.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 7:38 PM
I do so wish that the Satmar or one of the other Hasidic sects would endear themselves to the rest of us by following the Shaker and Amish playbooks: nifty but simple design, tasty home-cooked food, and a shameless willingness to market your culture to tourists (with a boundary set for privacy and real-life living). They are such a waste of quaint costuming, darlings. Just think if they started a visitors' center with a family-friendly kosher restaurant and interpretive exhibits about their culture, (and a gift shop with cute little beaver-hatted dolls and educational DVDs and stuff) and really milked the whole Fiddler-on-the-Roof thing, they could rake in enough money to get off welfare, fund their weird Israel-baiting political projects, and design handsome old-world housing with Succoth-hut balconies that even the AIA would love. My consulting services are FREE, people! Take advantage, already!
Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at February 22, 2008 7:50 PM
Brenda, thank you for coming up with the only nice thing I can think of to say about the Satmar--they indeed have quaint costumes. Problem is, I don't think their issue with a plan like yours would be about letting people into the community. It would be concern about the impact of letting their own people see what's out there!
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 8:04 PM
LOL @ 7:38.
I would also like to know how much these places go for. Someone should get a bunch of hipsters together to check out the Hassidic paper's classifieds and start renting or buying up these units. I mean, hipsters LOVE Williamsburg and these places are right there. Hell, the places are even big enough to throw some killer loft parties. Get a bunch of skinny-jeaned hipters hanging out listening to Vampire Weekend, blowing some coke, some gay dudes making out in the hallways, a bunch of art school grads having rambunctious hipster orgies. Maybe Todd P can even start having shows in one of the basements.
I see the making of a great reality show. Maybe I'll go try to get a few friends together and move into one of the places just to have a reason to start a blog.
Posted by: guest at February 22, 2008 8:04 PM
None of you posting your objections would even consider living in the locations that the Hasidum have taken over and developed. So why do you even care?
Oh I know, you have to drive by, or walk by the "fugly" buildings that hurt your eyes....grow up.
This is a non issue, but a great way to start a useless racial debate.
Posted by: 100yearsonHalsey at February 23, 2008 1:26 AM
I don't know which welfare office 4:11 worked in but they are full of shit. I work for HRA through a privately contracted agency in the Williamsburgh area and know for a fact that they receive a significant portion of the welfare dollars doled out in this city. They are in the forms of housing subsidies, medicaid, food stamps, free school lunch, special educastion services and the highest number of school vouchers anywhere. and to 1:26 maybe the Brownstone readers wouldn't consider living in the locations currently occupied by the Hasidim but there are many Black and Spanish families who wouldlove to live in one of the newly constructed ugly buildings who will not even get a chance to submit an application because the buildings will be given to Hasisidic families by the private Jewish developers before the cornerstone is laid. BTW diamonds are courtesy of some African getting paid pennies to risk his life in a diamond mine while a Jewish businessman make millions.
Posted by: guest at February 23, 2008 12:19 PM
The diamond trade out of Africa is AWFUL. Literally blood money, per the name, the "blood diamonds". Nobody can justify that commerce in any way. Not at all.
Posted by: guest at February 23, 2008 12:58 PM
My friend's father knows a lot of cops and says the Hasidic men are arrested all the time for picking up prostitutes. And there's a problem with bringing home venereal diseases to their wives.
There are a lot of bad things the people of all religions in this country get away with simply by hiding behind their religions. So much hypocrisy.
Posted by: guest at February 23, 2008 1:02 PM
1:26
Maybe you have not noticed the large number of young, white folks (and even some families) moving into Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy, and far South Williamsburg. Don't make it sound like the Hasids are doing anything noble by living in those areas. They were in search of affordable housing just like you. On top of that, if a few thousand young white people organized themselves into a single community and had a massive influx into an area all at one time you would instantly have the same type of isolated pocket of relative safety that the Hasids enjoy.
I would really love for just one "outsider" to be locked out of getting a home in one of these developments and bring a massive lawsuit to expose some of the shady and discriminatory dealings that go on in the Hasidic community.
If this sounds racist then that is fine. I would feel the same way about any insular group with extreme cult-like beliefs. This is especially true when it is an antiquated system who hates outsiders and homosexuals, treats their women like second class citizens, raises hate mongering little brats, and imposes ass ugly architecture on everyone else.
Posted by: guest at February 23, 2008 1:14 PM
Too often in human history, the oppressed when given the opportunity, take on many of the attributes of their oppressors. This has definitely happened within many orthodox communities. The Satmar, Lubavitcher and Sephardic Jewish communities think that they are a better race of people than everyone else and they treat everybody alse accordingly with a lack of respect. They have decrees against intermarriage even between the sects. The Sephardim are really strict about this because it is their goal to create a pure Jewish race. They don't resort to blowing themselves up because they have been able to manipulate political and economic systems to their advantage. Don't think for a moment that they would be any different from lunatic Muslims in that respect because if the Grand Rebbe ordered suicide bombing they'd do it. There is a wig store on Coney Island Avenue that had photo's of four women in the window last week. Some Rabbi ordered that the photo's of the wig-clad women be removed because they were too provocative (NOT). He called the women "pritze's" which means prostitute in yiddish and is the term that they regularly use when referring to "goyim" women. After a threatened community wide boycott the store removed the photo.
Posted by: guest at February 23, 2008 1:30 PM
I just can't believe the blatant anti-semitism posted by all of the assholes on this website. "Jewish businessmen make millions"...the same rhetoric spewed by Aldolph Hitler more that 60 years ago which led to the genocide of more than 6 million Jews. Why don't you people get educated and stop spreading your stereotypical crap on this website. People from all walks of life come to this country seeking freedom to practice their beliefs. Are these people bothering you? These are their beliefs, so practice some tolerance.
Posted by: guest at February 23, 2008 2:34 PM
Oh come ON, it's not anti-semitism, 2:34. That's the accusation always used anytime there is any criticism of these communities. Are you really truly saying nobody in these communities does anything at all that ever deserves criticism? Because they're what, PERFECT?
I will always criticise any community who treats their women like crap. Deal with it. I don't care if they are Jewish or another religion. Don't care. Because I don't care what religion they are, that means it is NOT anti-semitism.
Here's the result of becoming equal in a more tolerant society - you going to start being judged equally along with everyone else too. Welcome to the world of being like everybody else.
Posted by: guest at February 23, 2008 4:12 PM
Of course someone resoted to bringing up Hitler. I wonder how much this community cares about Darfur?
Posted by: guest at February 23, 2008 8:10 PM
All of this bickering aside, I'd like to know if anyone on Brownstoner has any information about Bedford between Putnam and Jefferson Avenues? Rumors swirling around here about sales to Hasidic people and then also to Pratt and I'm just curious.
Thanks
Posted by: Licoln1922 at February 23, 2008 9:31 PM
Licoln1922:
Here is your answer, I just spoke to the contractor, although it's owned and constructed by jewish people, the project is for neighborhood folks, and as far as I know there are no jewish people in that neighborhood.
http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=5&id=18201
Posted by: guest at February 24, 2008 12:19 PM
Guest 1:30 said- He called the women "pritze's" which means prostitute in yiddish and is the term that they regularly use when referring to "goyim" women. After a threatened community wide boycott the store removed the photo."
Actually "pritzus" means immodesty, not a prostitute, and the word for a female non-jew is a shiksa. I should know since I am a jew who was raised a satmar but left it since. My wife is one of those "shiksas". Goyim literally means nations-
1. A Hebrew word used in the Jewish Scriptures (a.k.a. the Old Testament). The word literally means "nations," and is always used within these scriptures to refer to the nations of the world. Significantly, within the Old Testament, Judah (the Jewish nation) itself is called a "goy."
2. In the Old Testament, the Jews were called to be a nation separate from the other nations, which were all Pagan. And so, colloquially, all non-Jewish nations came to be called "goyim" as in "the nations" from which the God of the Old Testament had called upon the Jews to separate themselves.
3. A word used by some Jews to refer to Gentiles (non-Jews). The word can have derogatory connotations, such as the word "black" when used to refer to a persons of African descent. It can be neutral or negative depending on the context and the intent of the speaker.
Singular = goy
1. "Gather together, gather together O shameful goy" - Zephaniah 2:1 (Referring to the Jewish nation)
2. Jews don't eat pork, goyim eat pork.
Posted by: guest at February 24, 2008 7:08 PM
And your point is what 7:08?
Posted by: guest at February 24, 2008 8:00 PM
Who give's a monkey's nipple about all the personal belief shit?
why not fugly rear balconies?
Posted by: guest at February 24, 2008 10:58 PM
Thanks to the guest who gave me the link to the Brooklyn Eagle. Very helpful.
Posted by: Licoln1922 at February 25, 2008 11:46 PM
12:47
"Yet these buildings are nicer then the older buildings surrounding them"
that is debatable. "nicer"... ugh
Posted by: guest at June 20, 2008 2:09 PM
12:57
indeed. as if there is any real hope of escape...
Posted by: guest at June 20, 2008 2:10 PM
1:28
Just because you can reproduce to a ridiculous degree, doesn't make you right. And categorizing everyone in mississipippi as "dumbf**ks" is as ignorant a comment as made by 1:04
Posted by: guest at June 20, 2008 2:16 PM
Hasidic or Orthodox (?) Jews that develop real estate in this manner are able to do so because of their unity and organization. This is one aspect of their culture that should be revered, and perhaps be contemplated and discussed more.
Posted by: guest at June 20, 2008 2:46 PM
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.