Chabad hipsters

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 small 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

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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.

> There's a whole new style trend among people I call "hipster Hasids". Chic young women (because they're not limited to the black pants-white shirt uniform of their male peers) routinely wear close-fitting tops, tight, knee-length skirts, and high heels.

> — Debra Nussbaum Cohen, The Jewish Daily Forward

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][13] "Mason and Mug", a similarly styled "kosher-artisanal" restaurant was established in Crown Heights/Prospect Heights.[10][11]

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

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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).[19] One event, titled "Unite the Beards", with the stated aim of "bridging the two communities", was organized by Chabad emissaries in Brooklyn.[20][21][22][23]

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.[19]

### "Hipster synagogues"

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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

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* Matisyahu
* Punk Jews (2012)
* Y-Love
* Mipsterz

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Hipster Hassids
2. ^ a b 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. ^ Hasid or Hipster
5. ^ "Culture-Hopping in a Fedora." Fashion and Style. The New York Times. April 29, 2011.
6. ^ ""Hipsters Embrace Hasidic Headwear." Hat Life. Volume 6, Newsletter 10. May 11, 2011". Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
7. ^ Tracy, Marc. "Chabad chic." Tablet Magazine. May 3, 2011.
8. ^ Mimu Maxi
9. ^ Basu, Tanya. "How the Internet Made Modest Fashion Cool". The Atlantic. February 27, 2015.
10. ^ a b Chernikoff, Helen. "Hipster And/Or Chasid? Grab lunch or dinner at Brooklyn's latest chic kosher food venture". Archived 2014-10-17 at the Wayback Machine The Big Apple. The Jewish Week. January 28, 2014.
11. ^ a b "Hassid+Hipster Brings Foodie Kosher Pop-Up To Crown Heights". Archived 2014-10-09 at the Wayback Machine JSpaceFood. December 13, 2013.
12. ^ Sharp, Sonja. "Kosher Pop Up Serves Artisanal Sandwiches to Crown Heights Crowd". Archived 2014-10-11 at the Wayback Machine DNAinfo.com. December 6, 2013.
13. ^ "Crown Heights Pop Up Offers Kosher Bacon Sandwiches". CrownHeights.info. December 9, 2013.
14. ^ Elstein Keisler, Max. "Monday Music: Orthodox Hipster Hip-Hop at CMJ." The Jewish Daily Forward.
15. ^ "hasidic hipster band zusha hopes to bring people all faiths closer to god." Fox News. Accessed December 21, 2014.
16. ^ "The Hasidic Hipsters Of Zusha Are Here To Rock The World Of Jewish Music."[permanent dead link] Huffington Post. Accessed December 21, 2014.
17. ^ "Too cool for shul: High Holidays with NYCs hippest rabbis." Thirteen.org. September, 2011.
18. ^ "Pratt's Rabbi Simcha Among NYC's Hippest Rabbis". Chabad on Campus. Wednesday, September 28, 2011.
19. ^ a b Bell, Kaitlin. "A Brooklyn Mitzvah: Converting the Hipsters." The New York Observer. November 2, 2008.
20. ^ Hoffman, Meredith. "'Unite the Beards' Campaign Connects Hipsters to Hasids." Archived 2014-10-06 at the Wayback Machine DNAinfo.com May 21, 2013.
21. ^ Hasid-hipster. Unite the beards." 11213.org. May 19, 2013.
22. ^ Hasidics are trying to woo hipsters one beard at a time." Archived 2013-07-17 at the Wayback Machine Gothamist. May 23, 2013.
23. ^ Kilgannon, Corey."With Whiskers in Common, Hasidim Court Hipsters." Archived 2014-10-12 at the Wayback Machine The New York Times. May 22, 2013.
24. ^ Liebman, Shana (2005-05-21). "SoHo Synagogue - Orthodoxy for the Hipster Set". Nymag.com. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
25. ^ Roberts, Yael. "Searching for Sacred Space." Archived October 12, 2014, at the Wayback Machine The Beacon Magazine. April 2, 2012.
26. ^ Sugar, Yehuda. "Rabbi Finds Home in One of America’s Trendiest Neighborhoods". Chabad.org. October 25, 2012.

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