Religion fascinates me and I have had a few questions on the Jewish religion but did not know where to ask so I thought I would try here.

a Yamica under the black hat.

...beard, black suit and magic underwear.

...People said he looked like a gangster but it was actually because he was an Orthodox Jew.  Maybe he thought - like chicken soup - "it couldn't hurt."  He was wrong; the bastard was sentenced to six years for fraud.

The things you have noticed are worn by the most Orthodox of Jews who are members of the Hassidic sect.  They are very much a minority among Jews, who believe in the most literal interpretation of the Old Testament.  Others have answered most of your questions about the way they dress, but the long strands of hair, or side curls, worn by young men are called (phonetic spelling) "payess."
Most Jews look just like everybody else.
I know a true story of a man who was a lapsed Jew but knew how to speak Yiddish, the German/Polish-based language of East European Jews.  He was walking along Fifth Avenue in New York and got to 47th St., which is the Diamond District, and many Hassidic Jews work there.  He was approached by one of them who was going up to people he thought might be Jewish to try to convince them to practice the religion in the Hassidic manner.  If the person was not Jewish the Hassid had no interest in him.
This one walked up to the gentleman and asked in a heavy Yiddish accent, "Excuse me, are you Jewish?"
The man replied in Yiddish, "God forbid!"
The Hassid's mind was blown and he had no response.
This is a true story.  I knew the older gentleman.

He'd bring them in ten at a time for himself . I think it was a tip from a hotel bellman somewhere overseas that led to his capture

I was born and raised a Chassidic Jew, and trained in the old ways to a degree most people simply don't get. It's part of why I was always considered something of an oddball. My waters tend to run a bit too deep for most people.
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Leave it to you to diminish this thread and make a joke out of it

no magic underwear papa... those are mormons.

Very well written , on subject and exactly what I wanted to know and learn from !!
Thank you !!!!
I did really only think the Shabbat was just on Friday evening only. Did not know it was essentially our traditional American weekend I also never connected "Shabbat " with "sabboth" which I see makes total sense .

Posted By: DoctorGonzo

I was born and raised a Chassidic Jew, and trained in the old ways to a degree most people simply don't get. It's part of why I was always considered something of an oddball. My waters tend to run a bit too deep for most people.  
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 There is the wide brim black hat that men wear ....Is there any difference in its meaning vs. the Yamica ? Can anybody wear it and it's just a preference ?  
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 The wide brimmed hat you refer to is no different tan the hats others wear, it is simply part of the "fashion statement" of Chasiddic men. The STYLE of the hat will often clue you to the specific Chassidic sect of the individual. Satmer Chassidim tend to wear wider brimmed hats than others.  
 There is also the fur-lined hats called "Shtreimels", though these have fallen into disfavor in modern times, and replaced with faux-fur. An Orthodox Jew will always wear a covering on their head to denote the separation between man and god. The hat is just more formal dresswear.  
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 Are there some clothing that women wear that I simply don't see that identifies them as Jewish. A mans attire is very noticible, but I can't say I notice the same distinction on the women . If not, is there a reason for this ?  
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 Not really, Orthodox women true to the faith tend to be modestly dressed, so as to minimize any thoughts of desire and lust in their men, who would otherwise be distracted from their primary purposes, which are to earn, study and worship. Orthodox Chassidic women tend to cut their hair very short and wear wigs. The occasional "peacocks" are an exception to the rule.  
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 The Sabbath starts at sunset Friday and ends (from what I know) by the rising of three stars . Is this correct as my Jewish friend mentioned only one star . What is the signifigance of these stars ? Names ?  
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 Significance is irrelevant in today's world, the original measurement of three stars was simply to make sure the sun was down. The Halacha states that the Sabbath is to start 18 minutes prior to sundown on Friday, and ends with the complete setting of the sun on Saturday. That time frame varies, between 48 and 72 minutes DEPENDING ON YOUR GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION. Hence the advent of three stars as a measurement for the end of Sabbath. If it is dark enough to see three stars in the Heavens, the Sabbath is over.  
   
 The four "tassles" I see ......I forgot the meaning, can you refresh my memory please ? Why are there four and isnt it directly related to the Tora teachings in some way ?  
   
 Tzitzit - tied to the end of each of four corners of a prayer shawl, as well as an undergarment worn by Orthodox males. Each tassle is tied in particular fashion, representing the days of the week, the months of the year, and other variations, depending on your specific religious sect though most adhere to the instructions delineated in the Torah. Think prayer beads and memory refreshment technique, and you have the basic reasoning behind the tzitzit.  
   
 Same on the long strands of hair I see young boys with . I never see older men with these . What is the background on them ?  
   
 The ear ringlets are called peyess (pronounces pay-ess or pie-us), depends on how you pronounce it. They are not cut by Orthodox Chassidic men because of a statement in the Torah a man shall not cut the hair below his temple bone. It is not cut, but older men tend to wrap their payes. My cousin has 4 foot long payess, never cut them in 62 years. He wraps it around his ear, and you simply can't tell unless you're looking closely. Others, like the Satmer sect, prefer to curl their payess. Sadly, this is the original source for the anti-Semitic canard that Jews have horns.  
 Only a really dumb goy would believe that bullshit anyway  
   
 Are any of the questions I've posed in some way mean a person is more deeply involved in the Jewish teachings ?  
   
 Not necessarily. Hopefully, I've given you some answers.  
   
 L'Chaim

First of all, the first half of my post was one of the few that completely responded in a serious way to the OP.  The second was, to me, a relevant, funny and true anecdote.  If you don't think it was funny, fine.  But why get pissy about it?
"Diminish this thread?" LMAO!  If you're not joking, you should be.  "Leave it to you???" If you're implying I make comments here that "diminish" other threads then you are more clueless than I ever imagined.  I almost never post in this particular wasteland, as anyone who comes here knows.
Sounds like you drank too much booze at the LV mixer. Or are carrying around some grudge you've been secretly nursing for some unknown reason.  I could care less.  Get over yourself.
PS: That little devil face you added was really hurtful.  *sob*

Seriously, dude.  WTF are you talking about????  Has someone put Polonium in your matzoh?  I mean really, you are making the rest of us Jews look bad.  Really bad.  Saint Croix's wife is gonna be really upset! Not to mention the rest of the Sisterhood.  It's a shondah!
No, really.  "Sycophant-to-losers?"  WTF does that even mean?  Which losers?  There are so many here.  So, please.  'Splain yourself.  Meh!

Is that like "The Housewives of Beverly Hills or New York" (lmao)

Seriously, Saint, you don't know about the Sisterhood?  I only have vague memories about it, since I spent so little time in temple so many years ago.  Never knew exactly what it was.  Sort of like Hadassah, I think.  Maybe Doc will grace us with one of his lengthy explanations.  But since I went to a Reformed synagogue (a/k/a "Judaism Lite") maybe The Sisterhood didn't exist among the "true believers."  Anyway, I doubt we'll hear about it from "you know who."
L'Chaim!