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The Pious Ones: The World of Hasidim and Their Battles with America Paperback – September 9, 2014
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Mr. Berger, who has reported on Hasidic communities for 30 years, plays the role of mythbuster…. The Pious Ones is a nice primer on Hasidim. There’s so much more to say on this subject, and no one is better placed to do so than Joseph Berger. ” (Wall Street Journal)
“A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the world of Hasidim.… [S]olid research and approachable writing.” (Kirkus)
“For those who’ve wondered about the black-hatted men in frock coats with long beards, Berger …provides many of the answers…. An absorbing read.” (Booklist)
“Fascinating…, Although sympathetic, Berger does not romanticize the chasidim…. His book takes us on a remarkable journey into the complexities of their lives.” (Jewish Week)
“A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the world of Hasidim.… [S]olid research and approachable writing.” (Kirkus)
“For those who’ve wondered about the black-hatted men in frock coats with long beards, Berger …provides many of the answers…. An absorbing read.” (Booklist)
“Fascinating…, Although sympathetic, Berger does not romanticize the chasidim…. His book takes us on a remarkable journey into the complexities of their lives.” (Jewish Week)
From the Back Cover
Veteran New York Times journalist Joseph Berger takes us inside the fascinating, insular world of the Hasidim to explore their origins, beliefs, and struggles.
Though the Hasidic way of life was nearly extinguished in the Holocaust, today the Hasidim—"the pious ones"—have become one of the most prominent religious subcultures in America. In The Pious Ones, New York Times journalist Joseph Berger traces their origins in eighteenth-century Eastern Europe, illuminating their dynamics and core beliefs, which remain enigmatic to outsiders. He analyzes the Hasidim's codified lifestyle, revealing its fascinating secrets, complexities, and paradoxes, and provides a nuanced and insightful portrayal of how their all-encompassing faith dictates nearly every aspect of life—including work, education, food, sex, clothing, and social relations—and helps them to sustain a sense of connection and purpose in a changing world.
From the intense sectarian politics to the conflicts that arise over housing, transportation, schooling, and gender roles, The Pious Ones chronicles the ways in which the fabric of Hasidic existence is threatened by both exposure to the wider world and internal fissures within its growing population. What lies ahead for the Hasidim, and what lies ahead for American culture and politics as these ultra-Orthodox Jews occupy a greater place in our society?
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By
Pirooz Aghssa
on October 2, 2014
Format: Paperback
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This is a wonderfully written book. It is engaging, interesting, and balanced. This book brings up some very important points about conflicts that arise from religious practices of people living in a country where there is a separation between church and state. I have great admiration for Joseph Berger for his ability to cover controversial topics quite truthfully in my opinion, while maintaining distance and objectivity.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By
Jon A. Herbitter
on September 10, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
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Joe,
A great read about a fascinating segment of our people.
Some of my best friends are.........
I think you did them all justice.
Thank you.
Jon
A great read about a fascinating segment of our people.
Some of my best friends are.........
I think you did them all justice.
Thank you.
Jon
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1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By
Pirgnori
on September 15, 2014
Format: Paperback
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I confess I am a big Joseph Berger fan. As a journalist, he's a superb reporter and gifted writer. I've also read his books and am particularly fond of Displaced Persons: Growing up American After the Holocaust. Berger's latest, The Pious Ones, is another literary gift. In telling the story of the Hasidim in America, Berger's fairness, humanity and in-depth reporting shine. To outsiders, the Hasidim often seem like Martians--so odd with their wide-brimmed black hats, women in wigs, winter wardrobe in mid July, and a fervent religiosity that dominate their every move. Berger's easy-read prose reveals their ways and gives meaning to their actions. Finally, The Pious Ones delivers a big surprise. Because the Hasidim are so intent on proliferation, by the power of their sheer numbers, they will be playing key political and cultural roles in the nation's politics as the 21st century moves on. This is a book for the Jewish community and anyone else interested in America's social, cultural, political, and religious future.
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1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By
Bridget Potter
on September 17, 2014
Format: Paperback
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It's wonderful. Just the right tone about "those people". Understanding, kind and yet aware of the difficulty that people on the outside have with them. Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask. I really enjoyed meeting the characters Berger chooses to introduce us to and the historical background of their beliefs and the extraordinary rituals which are so strictly adhered to by so many. It's quite extraordinary that in the middle of cosmopolitan New York any community has such a strong hold on so many young people.
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4 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By
Moshe Freedman
on September 19, 2014
Format: Paperback
3 Comments
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Bad, lazy, boring, apologetic, tedious, missionary style infomercial book, based on some very partisan Hasidic activists, mainly Alexander Rappaport, who runs 2 soup kitchens for the poor called Masbia which is financed mainly by secular Jewish organisations.
The book just tries to romanticize an archaic old fashioned Shtetl lifestyle. it gives no objective view and it even condemns & accuses western modern civilization.
As a Hasid I am horrified of a writer like Joe Berger, who acts simply out of Jewish guilt, as he doesn't hide his Hasidic parents, who left their traditional path of old eastern European Hasidic Judaism, and tries to right their wrong - by regurgitating Hasidic self sanctimonious BS.
I can bore you with thousands of detailed rebuttals, but it will suffice to say that Berger starts his book openly with this statement about his nostalgia for his parents Hasidic roots and biases. And ends with it, simply by quoting some Satmar school principal, that Hasidim are alive and main stream Jews are dead dead dead dead!
The book just tries to romanticize an archaic old fashioned Shtetl lifestyle. it gives no objective view and it even condemns & accuses western modern civilization.
As a Hasid I am horrified of a writer like Joe Berger, who acts simply out of Jewish guilt, as he doesn't hide his Hasidic parents, who left their traditional path of old eastern European Hasidic Judaism, and tries to right their wrong - by regurgitating Hasidic self sanctimonious BS.
I can bore you with thousands of detailed rebuttals, but it will suffice to say that Berger starts his book openly with this statement about his nostalgia for his parents Hasidic roots and biases. And ends with it, simply by quoting some Satmar school principal, that Hasidim are alive and main stream Jews are dead dead dead dead!
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