The Taleban Jews

[viper37]

What makes you think they are the traditional jews?

Because they say so.  I think it was a representative of the Hasidim (might have been another Orthodox group) who said "we didn't change, the others are changing".  I interpret that as them being traditional.

[Malthus]

What makes you think they are the traditional jews?

Might be the bad word.  Meaning the guys who wear the beards, the hats, the long hair vs the Jews who look like anyone around them.
Those who do their best to look different: traditional.  Those who do their best to blend in: others.

There are many distinct Jewish groups, but I do not know them all, nor do I know all of their clothing habits.

The guys with the funny clothing are ultra-Orthodox.

Basically, that funny clothing is not some sort of Jew costume, it is simply different varieties of clothing that people in general happen to have been wearing when the Jewish sect in question happened to form (and fossilize):

http://www.orthodox-jews.com/orthodox-jewish-clothing.html#axzz1abZl1aLJ

So some groups wear what a 19th century Lithuanian would have worn, others the sort of fur hat an 18th century Polish nobleman would have worn, etc.

It is as if some group of Christians formed of '60s Jesus Freaks decided that henceforth everyone in their sect and all their descendants were going to dress in '60s oufits, forever. In a couple of centuries, their descendants would look remarkably odd.

Most non-ultra-Orthodox consider that stuff crazy and as having nothing whatever to do with "Judaism".

[jimmy olsen]

Anyway, yom kippur tonight. Get ready to starve.

Tsom kal pal.

i didn't know the Klingons were jewish.

[viper37]

It is as if some group of Christians formed of '60s Jesus Freaks decided that henceforth everyone in their sect and all their descendants were going to dress in '60s oufits, forever. In a couple of centuries, their descendants would look remarkably odd.

Kinda like the Amish.
Thanks for the link on the outfit.  Funny enough, there was this ad at the top of the page

Most non-ultra-Orthodox consider that stuff crazy and as having nothing whatever to do with "Judaism".

I figured that.  IIRC, they avoid marrying with other Jews?

[The Minsky Moment]

Because they say so.  I think it was a representative of the Hasidim (might have been another Orthodox group) who said "we didn't change, the others are changing".  I interpret that as them being traditional.

See Malthus comments.
Not sure what kind of clothing Moses and King David might have worn but my guess is that they didn't dress like 18th century Ukranian fur merchants.

[Malthus]

Kinda like the Amish.

Yup, similar deal.

Thanks for the link on the outfit.  Funny enough, there was this ad at the top of the page

For the fashionable Hassid. 

I figured that.  IIRC, they avoid marrying with other Jews?

Yup.

Plus the other way around! Who would *want* to marry a practicing Hassid, if they weren't one?

[viper37]

Plus the other way around! Who would *want* to marry a practicing Hassid, if they weren't one?

You never know... There are occidental women marrying strict Mulsims and wearing a veil.  So why not?  I suppose one could convert/adopt the religious practice.  Or one could abandon his/her religion, but then I guess they have to cut all family ties, I suppose?

[Malthus]

Plus the other way around! Who would *want* to marry a practicing Hassid, if they weren't one?

You never know... There are occidental women marrying strict Mulsims and wearing a veil.  So why not?  I suppose one could convert/adopt the religious practice.  Or one could abandon his/her religion, but then I guess they have to cut all family ties, I suppose?

There used to be a bit of an "orientalist" fetish for Arabs - you know, the "Desert Song", Rudolf Valentino in "the Son of the Sheik", that sort of thing. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Son_of_the_Sheik

This strain of Western culture makes Arab men out to be dashing, exotic and romantic. These are not traits our culture assigns to Hasidic men. 

[dps]

Plus the other way around! Who would *want* to marry a practicing Hassid, if they weren't one?

You never know... There are occidental women marrying strict Mulsims and wearing a veil.  So why not?  I suppose one could convert/adopt the religious practice.  Or one could abandon his/her religion, but then I guess they have to cut all family ties, I suppose?

There used to be a bit of an "orientalist" fetish for Arabs - you know, the "Desert Song", Rudolf Valentino in "the Son of the Sheik", that sort of thing. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Son_of_the_Sheik

This strain of Western culture makes Arab men out to be dashing, exotic and romantic. These are not traits our culture assigns to Hasidic men. 

OTOH, the popular depiction of Hasidic men is that they are wealthy jewel dealers, and women are certainly attracted to wealthy  men.