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Although crime mainly white-collar is not unknown within the
orthodox Jews, the Hasidics of Stamford Hill are 'an extremely low-crime community'. I ask
if the natural reaction would be to contact the police in the event of a serious crime
being discovered. Not neccesarily, says Rabbi Gluck, such crime would normally be sorted
out within the community. They follow a policy of 'enlightened punishment' where prison is
an 'alien term' and the emphasis is on education rather than punishment.
The most obvious physical manifestation of the differences between the Hasidim and other
Stoke Newington cultures lies in the clothing worn by the men. From the white stockings,
the wide-brimmed fur hats, the elegantly-tailored frock coats and the tasselled skull
caps, one can conjure up images of 19th century Polish and East German market squares, a
beguiling anachronism in the days of back-to-front baseball hats and FCUK T-shirts. Is
there any theological significance in the differing and exotic styles of dress, I ask the
Rabbi? 'No' he replies, succinctly. Most Hasidic Jews dress conservatively except for
Sabbath and festival days when they, like wearers of any other national dress, like to
look their best. The differences between their clothing simply reflect cultural origins.
While on the subject of holy days, I enquire about the number of synagogues in Stamford
Hill and am surprised that there are over seventy, several to be found in people's front
rooms, although the main religious building are large, often purpose-built structures
scattered around the neighbourhood.
Finally we turn to the question of the Middle East and Israel. It has been widely reported
in recent months that the majority of the Hasidic community in Stamford Hill is
anti-Zionist and objects to the existence of the state of Israel. 'The Holy Land is a
special place and religious Jews love the land and the people. However, Zionism is a
secular ideology and has contributed to the secularisation of many Jews. The state of
Israel wasn't the best way forward for Jewish people. Today more than ever, both in the
land of Israel and around the world, we all feel passionately that we want and need
Moshiach (the coming of the Messiah).'
The orthodox Jews see themselves as 'keepers of the faith' and are at best unhappy when
the deeply-entrenched, spiritual traditions of Judaism are under attack, as they claim
they are from many quarters within Israel. The most extreme anti-Zionist group in the area
are the Neturei Karta, around 100 families, who provoked outrage from many within London's
wider Jewish community when they joined Palestinians in protesting at a recent anti-Israel
rally in the West End. I ask the Rabbi, then, if he is sympathetic to the plight of the
Palestinians. He smiled and commented ' I am sympathetic to the suffering of any human
being'.
Our meeting ended and, as the Rabbi walked me to the door, I noticed the contrast between
his sons' Arsenal books strewn on the floor and the impressive array of Hebraic volumes on
the bookshelves. Hardly the sacred and the profane but surely another indication of the
similarities between the many diverse cultures of Stoke Newington?
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