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How would you best describe the differences between the neighborhoods of Boro Park, Flatbush, Kensington and Benzenhurst to someone planning on moving into the area and considering these four fine Yiddishe neighborhoods?
My description, in a nutshell, would be Boro Park is mostly heimish and Williamsburg-stlye Chasidim with a sprinkling of some Litvishe Yidden. Flatbush is mostly Litvish and heimish Yidden with a sprinkling of some Shtreimel Chasidim, Sefardishe Yidden and a few modern orthodox. Kensington being mostly Heimish/Chasidish with a mix of Yeshivish Yidden. And Benzenhurst being very Yeshivish.
Anything to add, subtract or throw in to that summary or is it pretty spot on?
Benzenhurst
Bensonhurst.
The Wolf
I would describe all four of these neighborhoods as being one big happy community.
pretty spot on. RELEVANCE PLEASE?!
Please break down the demographics by religious intensity.
I would say the above definitions are fairly accurate. I would not recommend people live in Bensonhurst- it is too small of a community, with very judgmental attitudes, not friendly towards outsiders/BT’s/gerim, and for American non-Haredim, it is a wasteland. The community is centered around the yeshiva.
Kensington I consider part of Boro Park, even though geographically, I am probably wrong. The community there is wonderful, and even the Conservative shul there has a mechitza during the week.
I’d say Flatbush has more than “a few” Modern. Unfortunately many of the women are not dressing completely Tzniusdug and it should be a consideration when planning where to move.
Bustercrown: True, but I’d put the blame on that more widely than just the moderns.
The Bensonhurst frum community is more insular. It helps to be a Bais hatalmud-nik to feel comfortable. The community is small & confined to a small radius. Kensington is less concerned with “keeping up with Jones'”. They are less gashmius-oriented & in general, more open to new faces & non-judgmental interaction. BoroPark is intensely frum, but sometimes in too competitive a way & with skewed priorities. Flatbush is the most mixed-bag-ish. Wherever you go you can find your niche, but the niches don’t necessarily mix with each other.
I happen to like the Marine Park/Kensington/Flatbush communities since they are English speaking, not insular, and still very frum, convenient, and full of opportunities to learn.
The Flatbush Jewish Journal, for instance, lists opportunities to learn under R’ Aryeh Ralbag, R’ Hershel Schachter, R’ Eli Baruch Shulman, Rav Belsky, Rav Nelkenbaum, and other heilige gedolim, whether for iyun, daf yomi, or other shiurim.
Marine Park is Modern Chareidi, with a very strong leaning on the modern side. Kensington is very frum, insular and very approachable and outgoing.
I find Kensington to be very welcoming, unlike Bensonhurst
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