Tel-Chai Nation

There was a lecture given recently about Kiryas Joel and its isolationist inhabitants:

The lecture was both academic and scholarly in nature and was devoid of any political, partisan or religious agenda. It emphasized the origin, history, trials, tribulations and religious and social traditions of the Satmar Sect of Judaism from its inception in Central Europe, immigration to the NYC Borough of Brooklyn, and finally its expansion into Orange County and attempts to expand further north. [...]

During the lecture, Professor Hull addressed all pertinent issues such as population growth, rates of educational disability and handicap, poverty, and the self-imposed isolation of the very insular Satmar/KJ culture.

He posed the question, "could they survive or will they implode?"

Anagnostakis said the question really is, "can Orange County survive KJ".

Indeed, can it? I may have seen another report somewhere in which a meeting attendant asked if it's not written in their Talmud why it's important to work for a living. In the official Torah/Bible editions, yes it is, in the Hilchot chapters. But what's not clear is whether the Satmar's editions actually contain this, and if they do, how do they ignore it so easily?

Until that can be answered, a campaign must be initiated to cut down on welfare payments to the Satmar in order to prompt them to work more for their living.

Labels: haredi corruption, Judaism, New York, United States