SOCIOL 43 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Hasidic Judaism, Mikveh, Kashrut
LECTURE
5.2.18
Religion and the City
Abrahamson’s Analysis of the Religious Enclaves
Types of Judaism: Orthodox, Reform, Conservative
● Orthodox- Ex. Hasidic Jewish Enclave
○ Hasidic Jewish Enclave
○ The support of institutions (markets, temples, schools) in the enclave
○ Religion defines who you are
■ The most important layer of identity
○ Religion defines their daily life
■ food/rituals/celebrations
○ Neighbors know and care for eachother
■ Connected by a common identity that is extremely meaningful to them
○ Synagogue
■ Shabbat
● Collective prayer
● Rules:
○ Disengagement from secular and engagement to
religion/faith/family
○ Food and water must be prepared before Shabbat
■ Location of neighborhoods must be close to a synagogue
○ Food taboos
■ “The laws of Kashrut”- Kosher
● How the animal is slaughtered
○ Killed in a ritualistic way
■ Length of blade, sharpness, one stroke, draining
blood, prayer being said
■ Ex. Kosher butcher shops
● Pork is forbidden
● Shellfish
● Meat and milk cannot be consumed together
○ Separate dishes/utensils/fridges/cooking utensils
○ Ex. kosher restaurants/cafes
○ Yeshivas- schools
○ Mikvah- bath for ritual cleansing
■ “Ritually unclean” - women during menstruation or post birth
● Don’t engage in sexual behavior during or after
○ Separate beds
