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I saw a dozen donuts yesterday. About three dozen the day before.

I’ve taken pictures of hundreds in the past week+.

These were all store bought donuts held hostage until a redeemer bailed them out. Soon they will all be consumed.

If they are homemade, they’re born free.

It’s a cool way to storytell and teach us about how much we had to go through to remain committed to Yiddishkeit.

Apology & Update please:

Apology: I watched the 2014 YWN video and wrote a couple of critical responses that weren’t approved.

I’m sorry because my comments were ignorant, judgmental, and harsh.

Ignorance et al: I hadn’t read the article at the time but posted in height of feeling disturbed by the video.

After learning more, it reminds me of eating maror on Pesach to symbolize the bitterness that we bore in Egypt.

Here is an excerpt from YWN:

“…it is a genuine Minhag that dates back hundreds of years. In a nutshell, this is what is done:

In Chassidish communities of Poland and Hungary, it has been the custom when the Shamash is ready to light the Chanukah candles in shul, for children and others to throw hand towels and other items at him both before and during the lighting.

The custom is still practiced today in numerous Chassidish minyanim.

[Vishnitz] page 31).

What is the reason for this custom and where does it come from?

The custom is cited in the name of the Sanzer Rav, but quite feasibly could have dated before this as well. The Halichos Chaim, written by Rabbi Aharon Kluger cites the minhagim of the Klausenberger Rebbe Rav Yekusiel Halbershtam (Chanukah p.18) and explains that the purpose of this custom was to vividly demonstrate how things were during the time of the Greeks and the Hellenists when a Jew wished to perform a Mitzvah. He was laughed and jeered at, unless the Mitzvah was performed in their specific Hellenizing way.

Yet another given for this custom by the Klausenberger Rebbe is that on the chance that the Shamash feels a sense of empowerment and haughtiness in fulfilling this Mitzvah so publicly. The clothing and towels are thrown at him to demonstrate that he has accomplished nothing (See Yehi Ohr 5733 p.67).

The custom to light in shul only dates to the times of the late Rishonim. It is interesting to note that neither the Rambam, the Rif, the Rosh, the Ohr Zaruah, the Eshkol, Rashi, nor the Machzor Vitri mentions the custom of lighting in shul. The earliest authority to mention the custom is the Baal HaIttur. Indeed, the first to mention that a blessing is recited is Rav Yitzchok Perfet, the Rivash (1326-1408). The Maharam Shick (YD) stated that the Chasam Sofer actually did not recite a blessing when lighting in shul.” (YWN 2014)

People make it sound like going to Israel is the ultimate solution to shidduchim.

I’m in Israel at this moment so I’m enjoying believing in this solution.

Maybe since I live in the US, I don’t hear the other side where maybe Israelis are pressured to look elsewhere for shidduchim too. For them that may be the US.

Wouldn’t it be sweet if families sent out family-photo Chanukah cards every year?

WTP: I’ve never heard of that and have heard/read plenty of stories where people go to Israel for shidduchim.

Thank you

WTP +1

Omgosh I didn’t even think about the long white beard!

When was the razor [man’s clean shaved face] invented?

Maybe every old man back in the day had a beard?

And he was clearly of a higher social status that he could afford enough to plump up. That was back then. Today it’s often the opposite.

Have you read Miriam Adahan’s *Awareness* book?

True dat.

Supply and demand yes.

Yet is it really that simple?

Even when all the merchants have the same hat costs, inventory, and demand, hat prices vary.

Why wouldn’t a store with more baseline expenses, such as higher rent and employee salaries (and employees), not charge more per hat to account for their greater profit needs?

Then again what about other motivators for pricing? Some people, regardless of the cost to maintain their business, may need more profits to support their families.

Or sometimes stores add more to their prices to account for expected losses due to various factors, including damaged hats.

Mitzvah time please: Anyone want to summarize the OP’s OP?

Hope. I have hope.

LU there’s a prayer for you at the Kotel… b’karov you’ll see that what’s past is past and it was there to help you get to your zivug ?

Maybe it’s good inventory since their hats may always be in style.

Every Jewish man and married woman cover their heads outside, so there is a greater demand.

Maybe some people are loyal to the hat store owners that they knew.

Maybe before moving to Lakewood, the hat store owners owned a hat store business in a more remote area. Despite more stores in the area, they figured that Hashem is in charge of parnassah anyway and they had faith that Hashem wanted them to continue their business.

Maybe selling hats is a good way to get to know *big heads* in the community. As in, selling hats to the leading rabbi or mayor helped make strong connections.

Hat stores may appeal to any generation and age. Even little kids can get fun kippot or headbands^

^Dunno what they sell at Lakewood hat stores besides hats but I assume that they at least cater to children and make additional sales for the small stuff too, maybe. Maybe not. Please correct me if my hypothesis is incorrect.

….and the Winner is… because Hat Stores were the next step to open up for new immigrants.

Jewish immigrants came to NY in waves.

In time they moved out into other neighborhoods and NJ. As trains made traveling outside of NY practical.

American Jewish Immigration:

After spending their money for the boat ship across the ocean, many Jewish immigrants often took factory jobs in the garment industry.

Sometimes they got to work up to become tailors. All they needed to carry was their needle. Many Jews already had a keen eye for studying Torah and reading. Jobs that focused on the details were fitting.

Of course there were also Jews that had bigger sights. They came to America and wanted a piece of the dream. So they started their own businesses.

Typically these enterprising Jewish men started by carrying their wares on their back. One-man shows. They had a sack of common necessities. Maybe scarves and hats too. They traveled around the streets and markets selling what they could.

From there, they could get a cart. A horse with cart. And the few who made it, like really made it, opened up their own stores. A retail location.

They sold what people needed. People traveling through the area and new residents often needed hats. Sometimes hats needed to be replaced. Or they were gifts. Every child comes B”H with a head. Every Jewish head in time b’esrat Hashem would need to be covered.

I am guessing that the hat shops of today may have been inherited as well. The children who grew up in and out of his or her parent’s shop is now running the show.

Hopefully this explains some of the history of today’s roots. I don’t know of Lakewood’s hat store owners personally. I do know that there is more to a story than our personal experience. We are another link in a chain. Maybe at least one shop’s story fits in here.

Have you thought to ask the hat store owner?

Oh Yeshivish or Chassidish aren’t sll or nothing, right?

There is a spectrum.

CPR manikin is $97 online

What is the hat wearing occasion? Daily? Shabbos? Simchas?

Unless you’re Health!

WEIRD Nations = Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, And Democratic

Cutting already baked chocolate chip cookies?

How? They break into pieces. Unless you make super gooey soft ones with kosher gelatin and cut them while still warm?