Borough Park Brooklyn

Borough Park is home to a diverse array of Hasidic groups, with the largest being the Bobov sect, including Bobov-45. Other prominent Hasidic communities in the neighborhood include Boyan, Belz, Ger, Satmar, Karlin-Stolin, Vizhnitz, Munkacz, Spinka, Klausenburg, Skver, and Puppa, among others. Additionally, there is a minority of Haredi non-Hasidic Lithuanian Jews, often referred to as Litvish or Yeshivish, as well as Sephardic Jews, with a smaller number of Modern Orthodox Jews.

Approximately 37% of Jews in Brooklyn consider themselves Orthodox, and Borough Park is widely regarded as the “heartland” or “home” for New York’s Orthodox Jewish population. The neighborhood underwent a significant transformation since the 1970s, transitioning from a largely liberal-leaning Jewish community to one that is predominantly Orthodox, leading to the characterization of the shift as a “suburb to shtetl” transformation.

During the early 1900s, Borough Park and Brooklyn as a whole were inhabited by a more liberal-leaning Jewish population. However, many of these families eventually moved to the suburbs or other parts of the city, while more conservative Hasidic Jews, including survivors of the Holocaust and immigrant families from Eastern Europe, settled in the area. Consequently, the overwhelming majority of the Hasidic population in Borough Park adopted a more traditional Jewish religious lifestyle. A 2002 study by the UJA Federation-New York found that only 2% of Borough Park’s Jews identified as Reform Jews, while nearly three-fourths identified as Orthodox Jews.

Religious observances

The Orthodox Jewish population in Borough Park adheres rigorously to halakha (Jewish law) and the Shulkhan Arukh (halakhic code), incorporating religious laws into their daily routines. Saturday is observed as the Shabbos (Jewish Sabbath), a day of rest strictly adhered to by Orthodox members of the Jewish community. In some areas, a siren is sounded on Friday before sundown to announce the arrival of the Shabbos.

Culturally and religiously, Borough Park’s Jewish population is renowned as one of the most Orthodox in the world. Many families abstain from owning televisions or attending movies, opting instead for religious and communal activities. Children typically attend yeshivas rather than public schools, while adolescent girls ensure that their knees and elbows are covered before leaving the house. Weddings and funerals often feature separate seating for men and women to adhere to religious guidelines.

Kosher food, prepared or sold under rabbinical supervision, is the norm in Borough Park, with stores exclusively offering such products. However, the erection of an eruv in the neighborhood sparked controversy due to differing interpretations of Jewish law. Despite this, an eruv was constructed in 1999-2000, encompassing approximately 225 blocks in Borough Park, though its usage remains a contentious issue.

Mikvahs, or Jewish ritual baths, are integral to Orthodox Jewish life and are dispersed throughout the neighborhood. These facilities are typically not openly advertised to maintain user privacy and discretion.