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GAW: in the past lots of such kids were institutionalized, likely mistreated, with the financial burden falling on the public. Many of them are not mechuov bechinuch, I would think.
And I’m not intimately familiar with KJ so nothing I say can be used against them, but AFAIK singing cultural songs are allowed as long as it’s not of a religious nature. Think dreidel, dreidel vs. jingle bells.
B”H I don’t have a need for these services. I was talking for those that do. I did have early intervention for a kid in the past. In Yiddish.
What you maybe don’t grasp is that there are federal mandates that public schools need to abide by, so I don’t get the distinction you make between public school and the federal government.
Also, you are basically relegating these kids to a life of even more dependency — and more government spending — if they don’t reach their full potential because they’re not getting the maximum help they need even with basics such as feeding and dressing themselves, etc.
You can’t expect a parent to pay THEIR WHOLE ANNUAL INCOME for tuition, even if you technically believe they should do just that.
The whole idea for a Jewish class in a public school setting in Monsey is to avoid having to bus to KJ — which is technically a public school as well. But they probably sing songs about Chanukah and not about… And because they do only special Ed they excel more at it versus a public school that also does special Ed.
And they charge more as well. Have they earned it or do you begrudge this to KJ residents as well?
For the umpteenth time there’s no lack of Special Ed Yiddish therapists. Even if some hail from Lakewood and Yiddish is not their first language…
I’m talking about getting the best education for our special needs kids utilizing flexibility in the law to allow for special circumstances while you’re using the law as a rigid weapon against kids desperately in need of special services. It’s (lehavdil) like Middas Harachamim vs. Middas Hadin.
And the state has the possibility to provide sufficiently for both the Public school and Jewish special Ed (which apparently is co-Ed even in KJ). They chose to begrudge us OUR TAX DOLLARS.
Sam: I don’t quite get your question. We are talking about frum women using non Jewish female drivers. Obviously we Jews have higher standards of modesty.
Look at Touros site for different options for a special Ed degree. Chasidim don’t have a monopoly on Yiddish, not that it matters. And yes, frum women commute from Monsey to Touro.
The district never said they have a lack of licensed Yiddish speaking therapists, so I frankly don’t know why you are arguing this point. The issue is that ERCSD wasn’t accommodating and voting in a Jewish board solved
many issues — at least temporarily.
And this is the coffee room…. The news articles weren’t delving into the issues, just accepting all critic against Orthodox Jews at face value. You can try to argue on the merits of the points the author brings up, but by brushing it away entirely as a mere blog you are being dishonest so you can hold on to your preconceived misconceptions. And as far as I know Batya Ungar-Sargon is not Chasidic…
Agreed, it’s difficult in the suburbs. But in KJ for women it’s the norm and as mentioned a lot has been done to make it easier for them – you admittedly didn’t grow up in KJ.
GAW: There are probably more Yiddish girls/women than men in the special Ed field. Not all are Chasidish but many are. The average Boro Park girl speaks at least some Yiddish even if she’s not davka Chasidish and can brush up on her skills to teach special needs kids. We are not talking about teaching a college course in Yiddish but are discussing low functioning kids with limited vocabularies.
I think there are even distance learning programs towards a BA, maybe even for special Ed based out of Brooklyn. And of course most of these Yiddish speakers don’t currently work in public schools, but if a public school is looking to fill such a position there are many able and willing candidates.
The argument has evolved from what’s required by the County/city and I think even they’d agree that whatever’s in the best interest of the child needs to be done. Now if someone speaks Aramaic they won’t even consider asking for teachers in their language as they are well aware that the government can’t accommodate them even if they so desire. This is not the case with Yiddish in NYC nowadays.
This is not the case in Monsey either and I can’t understand how anybody can be so harsh and say these kids should “go fly a kite” because of a misguided liberal notion of government equal benefits for all or no one, coupled with an inferior shtetl mentality.
And again, despite some off-color language I still recommend the Tablet article I mentioned. Maybe someone can paste it with a little censuring? Is that allowed?
Thanks KJC. Although this thread has kind of moved on I hope ZD realizes that despite being suburban, driving is not always a necessity if the community is proactive about finding solutions.
ZD: I never said what the Pashtun speaker should or shouldn’t get because it’s not an either or situation. We try to get services for our community and I’ll let the Pashtun speakers try to get whatever they can. If we have more voters, or clout or whatever, perhaps we can be more successful. This is America, and especially in NYC a lot of services are catered to different language speakers. As the famous mishna goes, if I’m not for myself, who will be for me?
You can call it selfish, but I doubt the Pashtun speaker will withhold asking for services in Pashtun because somewhere in Monsey a Yiddish speaker was denied Yiddish services. And believe me the Chinese have no problem either… And if the city or county refuses because it’s too costly, we can arrange for private schooling instead to meet our needs instead. And ask the county to pay for it – because it’s really a win-win situation if one looks at it with unbiased eyes.
Somehow the minorities in Rockland feel otherwise, not because they want similar services, but because they feel our services are coming out of their fair share. If the state will look at it fairly they will acknowledge that EVERYONE is being short-changed here and fix the formula as there’s simply not enough money to go around.. Problem is they went with the easier option of blaming the Chasidim/Orthodox.
I strongly suggest.you read the Tablet Mag article on this topic (The Blame Game).
ZD: thanks.
Perhaps some of the teachers or students don’t know Yiddish or there are other reasons so you could be right.
Syag: it’s obviously not so simple and you’d probably feel otherwise if it were Ch”v your kid on the line, likely being harassed for being different on multiple counts. And NYC wouldn’t have been accommodating just for the fun of it so there are most likely legal grounds.
If I remember reading correctly some of the springs Poland Springs uses may be contaminated as they are near gas stations or something similar.
Point is lots of research and personal judgement is needed for everything and it will just use the Hechsher’s resources for something they aren’t paid for. We consumers need to know what we’re buying and complain to the company or not buy a product we think rips us off.
When it comes to beets vs. horseradish is horseraddish actually more expensive? I’d think it has more to do with “lazy labeling” than a conscious effort to mislead the consumer. Unless I’m wrong…
ZD: agreed. Some parents of low functioning kids don’t mind sending to a public school with a separate class (frum kids only, hopefully no concern about crude language etc.) with Yiddish speaking teachers, and served Kosher meals — even if religion may not be taught — as long as they aren’t taught and sung songs about Xmas, etc. Some cultural Jewish stuff is probably allowed and done.
So that sort of arrangement, similar to what’s done in Williamsburg and maybe other places as well is something they object to in East Ramapo. And that’s one of the reasons they decided to elect a Jewish majority board that addressed the community’s concerns.
And now with a fiscal monitor — who let’s not kid ourselves, he knows why he was appointed and what’s expected of him — all accommodations are at risk.
Thanks KJC.
Is there bus transportation to the mall as well? What about transportation to the medical center & supermarkets — who offers free rides — and are they shared or not?
And finally ZD was concerned about yichud when a woman is using a car service and the driver needs to travel through unpopulated roads, is that a valid concern?
Thanks again.
I also find it oddly ironic that years ago towns surrounding Monsey/Spring Valley formed their own villages so as not to be together with minorities (and have better funded schools as these communities are richer) while the Orthodox Jews are blamed for the public school’s lack of funds; especially since many of us are not exactly well-off financially.
GAW: It seems I was wrong and there is or was a small Jewish class in a Monsey public school but it’s being contested because supposedly the goal is to have kids mainstreamed. Even eating Kosher meals separately is considered smacking of segregation by some… I found the above in a Tablet Mag article titled “The Blame Game” which is very informative on this topic.
I couldn’t find the article I thought I remembered which also mentioned Williamsburg. I may have read it offline and I’m not sure by whom. Sorry.
I don’t know the details of the Willamsburg program, but it’s not a religious class per se so it’s during regular school hours. It’s most likely deemed cultural, hence the accommodations are possible.
GAW: I’m sorry but I don’t know exactly what’s mandated. And I’ll continue to bring up locations because as far as I know the law to accommodate special Ed students is not exactly clear-cut. So it boils down sometimes to doing things only based on dry law or “mit gefeel”. And some school districts unfortunately try to skirt the law and give Jewish special Ed kids “bubkes”
So in Williamsburg for example there is a Yiddish/Jewish special Ed class based in a public school, while East Ramapo did not want to provide such accomodation. I don’t have the time to look it up now, but there was an online column (by Aron Wieder of Monsey IIRC) on this topic which was very informative a year or two ago.
As to your question of taking the cheapest option that’s minimally adequate, I could flip it and say the same for regular public education. If drama lessons for example, despite being helpful for self esteem — and it may even be a career option — are cost prohibitive, why should it not be cut?
And ZD: I don’t think many students from East Ramapo’s public school system are planning to attend Ivy League colleges, for many reasons, so you’re not making a good argument there. What, for example is the graduation rate in East Ramapo public schools? I’d assume most public school kids there that go on to college would choose a community college. And I’m not a racist, it usually boils down to dollars and cents and it’s definitely a poor district.
ZD: your definition of inadequate is based on your interpretation. Of course it’s not clear-cut, and that’s one of the reasons the city or county can try to fight private special-Ed placement. For example if a kid speaks only Yiddish at home and the county doesn’t provide Yiddish services would you say such an education is appropriate for a child with very limited learning capabilities? I want your personal opinion, not just the legalese as you’ve come out very strongly against your co-religionists on this issue and it’s truly disheartening.
Unfortunately even in the city it is very difficult to fight the board of Ed. because they have “unlimited” resources to appeal even when they do lose. So you’d need to pay exorbitant tuition and legal fees while your case snails through the court system. Yet at the end of the day — or very often school year — you don’t know whether you’ll get reimbursed. And they make you go through this fight EVERY SINGLE year.
Many people moved to KJ just so their Down Syndrome child can get the education they need and deserve. We are dealing with a self centered teachers’ union pulling the strings, crazy beureacracy and at least a touch of anti-semitism even in NYC.
On the other hand KJ seems to be doing very well with their public school district. And despite many naysayers around here, they do it all LEGALLY. So paradoxically we need to be more isolated (segregated?) and collectively smart to achieve fairness. And then we get backlash for doing just that. Anybody interested in starting a thread about the Monroe annexation issue?
Sam: You seem to be taking it more personally than logically. These women were never told it’s okay to drive. It’s not some bolt of lighting out of nowhere ban, taking away an age old right. It was just something that was apparently never enforced to this degree because it was self understood. Nowadays with the growth of our communities rules need to unfortunately be set in stone for them to stick, as among so many people there are always “ober chachachim” that challenge everything and contribute to the yeridas hadoros.
Look around you at the secular public and you’ll realize how true this is especially in regards to modesty. Or better yet don’t look. The dropping of standards happened relatively quickly because individual women decided they can wear A or B or remove C and D and no one can deny them the right to “self-expression”.
Tznius is not black and white like many other halachos, so you taking issue with something you don’t understand and were brought up differently is understandable. What I don’t understand is your denying others the right to enforce their own community’s standard.
Let’s say for example Satmar, following the Chasam Sofer’s ruling, decides that women who wear their own hair beneath their head covering — a minority “prohibition” — their children can’t be allowed into Satmar schools, would you be also be up in arms? Well, I don’t know if it’s the case or not but it would make sense for them since it’s one of the principles of Satmar, even if to you it seems alien.
Most frum schools have rules for the parents, whether they like it or not…
I think that besides for Shabbos kids nowadays don’t play too many board games. But for a bungalow colony or similar venue it could make sense to earn a few extra bucks, not a full fledged busines. And only if you can get the games for free (game donations from family etc.) or very cheap.
Actually I was waiting for you to chime in on the women driving ban thread. Specifically about women and transportation options in KJ.
ZD: you actually crack me up. On one thread you bemoan poor KJ women who have to walk on hilly terrain to go shopping cause they can’t drive (which of course they don’t have to walk, as I mentioned) while in this one you claim kids don’t need to be bused (legally, which is untrue as NDG mentioned, but also illogical because of the long distances for most kids to get to school) in a somewhat more suburban community than KJ…
Okay, but age of fertility can not exactly be planned. So I don’t get the point of this discussion…
ZD: Are you comparing the cost of KJ special Ed to the cost of East Ramapo reg. public school or to special Ed in a public school setting? Huge difference.
DY: I think he meant leave the RV parked over Shabbos (I’d imagine in a scenic area) and perhaps tour on foot.
Sorry, if you said sending off to to Yeshiva/sem and then having more kids I’d understand. But marrying off a couple (of children, if I understood correctly and then having a couple more) seems like a stretch. Unless you’re talking frogs then I have no clue how that works…
ZD: granted, because it’s hilly and sometimes cold etc. walking is not always easy. My point was that there are options, one of them walking, and it’s not as bleak as it may seem to the misinformed. And walking is healthy exercise, which you should be all for, since you love to complain about unhealthy “Ashkenazi Jewish” food and lack of exercise.
What exactly does “in yichud” mean? Do you mean violating yichud or simply in one car with a man? Traveling during daylight hours with no darkly tinted windows in a populated area alone with a man does not constitute yichud.
So perhaps you think it inappropriate despite it being okay halachikally. Then maybe you can understand where the Rabbonim are coming from when “banning” female driving. They consider that inappropriate for reasons of tznius despite perhaps seeming technically okay
Incidentally, if you don’t mind my prying — you can choose not to answer — did you grow up in KJ?
Froggie doesn’t wear a tie. Nice try though.
You see, there really is no privacy anywhere…
I agree it’s ridiculous. People really need to use common sense and self control when pointing a cam– I mean cell phone. Unfortunately we have turned into non thinking robots. Because of the proliferance of phones and constant photographs young people especially have lost all sensitivity to other’s privacy and boundaries. Or so it seems.
ZD: Kiryas Yoel, though somewhat suburban is a walkable community with sidewalks, unlike typical American suburban communities.
And I believe supermarkets offer free car service trips (not sure if both ways) to shop there. The car service companies employ Heimish drivers. So women take advantage and combine all their shopping, not just for groceries. The medical center may have something similar — perhaps someone can enlighten us to the specifics.
Kiryas Yoel also has a shuttle bus system.
And women group up to visit the Woodbury Common shopping mall to save on car fare.
Many men in Kiryas Yoel don’t drive either and manage.
The community is set up better than many others because driving is not expected, which saves on costs, traffic and pollution.
And no one is held prisoner in their home.
Git: best advice that most people do anyway: Don’t keep track!
As the old adage goes, worry for your Ruchnuos and other’s gashmius. Who cares if it’s right or wrong? You’re not going to mussar them about it anyway, nor should you. If you don’t keep track you save yourself bad feelings if the card never comes.
And Syag, thanks for your openness. Postage stamps and Thank you cards are more expensive than people realize, and end up in the trash. But it’s good to have Hakaros hatov, so sometimes a thank you phone call will suffice.
Joseph: maybe they enjoy the quick service and Heimish atmosphere, but not if you would do a blind taste study. Yes, some places are just fancier and the food is nothing to write home about. But I’m talking about the real, juicy stuff, not just the name.
I second PBA. More upscale than your average burger joint but their burgers are extraordinary. You might have to wait for the privilege of being seated though. So come armed with patience…
Thanks Golfer for the compliment and for the sensitive correction. Honestly, even after rereading I didn’t notice that it’s spelled wrong. Something about the brain processing corrections automatically (and my keyboard finishing words for me that I used prior despite not being versed in “Yinglish” usage at all)…
And you’re right, cheap shots should have no place here towards anybody.
Of course I was using an extreme but unfortunately that’s close to what many families can afford without getting into more debt. They’ll use whatever means possible so it shouldn’t come it to that including “collecting” which you malign. I took the liberty to color the situation a little for illustrative purposes, so you can see what you’re essentially advocating if asking for help is a no-no.
And the child probably knows theoretically where the family stands financially, with the parents stressing anytime an appliance breaks etc. but most likely they didn’t grow up deprived and hungry (food stamps maybe?) or missed out on class trips.
Your premise about mice running around, eating at Kiddushim foreclosing etc. is totally off base and exaggerated as very many families barely get buy without resorting to such a life AND YET CAN’T AFFORD A RESPECTABLE WEDDING, DECENT GIFTS AND TROUSSEAU FOR CHILD AFTER CHILD.
GAW: my point is simple. If a kid grew up in a similar environment as his peers, had the same comforts and standards to varying degrees, attended similarly appointed FAMILY and community weddings, it’s kind of a slap in the face to tell this child: hey, you’re really poor and our credit cards are all maxed out.
So we’ll plan your wedding in the local Shul with salami sandwiches as the main course and no flowers etc. Your brother will play the keyboard or we’ll use recorded music, everyone will clean up after themselves, and to make it simple we’ve arranged for a one room attic above the Shul for you to live in. The rent is lower, so you’ll put away $100 a month to slowly furnish it (babies? Why worry about that interfering before long…) and meanwhile use some sukkah boards to make temporary furniture. Oh, and you can borrow linen until you buy your own, and luckily for sforim there’s a Shul downstairs.
That’s more or less how it used to be when the rich and poor were separate entities. That line is blurred.
You’re missing the point. B”h many of us live in a classless society. We are not, for the most part classified into rich and poor in our neighborhoods and live integrated. Most children don’t go to school with their parents’ bank accounts numbers displayed on their foreheads — I mean clothes. And many of our parents were better off than we are. So because of not really knowing who’s poor (I’ll concede, for the most part we know who’s really wealthy) maintaining the status quo is very much a requirement for the less well off among us to feel like mentchen. That’s why takanos etc. are so helpful although they smack a little of socialism. By bringing everybody’s standards down the klal ends up benefiting — even the rich guys who get less solicitations. That’s not the same as refusing to give or understanding that even when costs are brought down many will still need help.
And when someone comes to my door and asks for Hachnosos Kallah I don’t truly know what it’s going for, but someone collected for health reasons may also be using it for homeopathy which I don’t believe in. Haskomos help, but one still can’t be sure about the details and legitimacy.
When we don’t look too closely at who’s asking we hope that Hashem will provide for us likewise even if we may be undeserving.
DaMoshe: that was a really cheap shot. Chasidish Rebbes are very makpid on Zman Krias shma and demand their followers to do likewise. Ask any Chasidish bochur what’s stressed before bein hazmanim.
If you would have mentioned davening shacharis late or mincha after Shkia, maybe you would have come across as sincere. The reason some very great Rebbes used to daven shacharis late is because they didn’t feel spiritually ready and had many hachnosos before facing Hashem in prayer. It was never a blank check for the klal.
Just to clarify, shma can be said privately at first to make the zman. Not ideal, but not changing halacha.
It’s all part of a liberal disease called “Mind your own business”. The contest was obviously wrong. There’s no reason to aggravate people just because I feel like it. At least not in Yiddishkeit.
There was once a story, I forgot the specific details, about a Rabbi asking a non Jewish worker to work on Sunday despite it being the guy’s day of rest. I wish someone can help me out here, but he said something to the effect that since it’s a made-up Sabath, it’s okay to ask him to violate it. This story kind of went against the grain of my liberal senses (I am American after all) which would suggest that if you want the non-Jew to respect your day of rest, respect his. So if this view is correct, perhaps it’s okay to draw satirical cartoons, but I’d assume it should never be done with so much pomp and “rubbed into their faces”.
Okay, okay.
#1. Maybe I wasn’t clear about the jewelry, and you’re right about not spending too much on it. I know we’re not all wealthy, but my point was that kallas were showered with jewelry since at least his time, with differing degrees of extravagance. And you’d be hard pressed to find a Kallah that forgoes all jewelry. It’s part of what makes the engagement exciting and shows the world (or her friends) hey I’m engaged to so and so. Not so much fun to say “and so and so doesn’t think I’m worth spending on.” I’d call that a community standard, which is A SIMILAR CONCEPT, not exactly the same, as providing so one can continue to live like one has before losing their wealth. Maybe I’m off base a little but it sure would be bushos, in our community, for a Kallah not to be able to show off. So it’s definitely Tzeddakah to spare her embarrassment. That’s where CZs, etc. may come into the picture to save money, and that’s a total new topic I’m not going to address now.
#2. I never mentioned vacations, extravagant weddings or lavish apartments. Besides for the gifts I was talking about basics which most of us have growing up – decent linen, pots and pans, dishes, clothes, and yes furniture. Not the most expensive or lavish still adds up when it comes to a wedding and setting up a new home. It’s a fresh start for the couple so you wouldn’t want her to walk around in her torn slippers etc.
#3. Most girls that work pay for part of the expenses, but it usually doesn’t cover enough. The reason, at least in my circles, all this is given is because after they’re married the couple is more or less on their own. And nowadays that’s hard enough EVEN WHEN a lot is provided beforehand. I’m not touching the Kollel debate.
So bottom line, if the parents, and you and me, have no furniture, dishes, linen, didn’t receive kallh jewelery etc. one can think of asking his child to do without. And not because the child is immature. Because it would be a very bitter pill to swallow, and most parents don’t want to hurt their kids like that. We want our kids to get married with a positive outlook, and for most of us mortals nice things, and a dirah nueh are helpful tools.
So I’m all for takanos and minimizing expenses, but I don’t see a wedding of rolls and salami in a shul anytime soon. Or a basement studio apartment with hand me down linen.
And I agree with you about American materialism creeping up on us, the question is how to curb it, not how to quit helping each other out financially.
End of rant…
Getting married required a “dowry” going back generations. And even Rivka Imenu received gifts of jewelry. Looks like the precedent has stood over time…
The reason couples expect all this stuff is because her mother most likely received all this when she got married and we live in a materialistic society where “must haves” are constantly increasing, realistic or not.
My grandparents and many others OTOH after the war, started from scratch — and in spite or even because of it they CHOSE to go back to how it was in parts of Europe pre-war and gave their kids jewelry, furniture etc. However, it was much more common for boys to work before marriage to pay for expenses, family size was probably smaller and rents were a pittance.
So here we are. The situation does need improving, no doubt. There is however a concept in Tzeddakah of giving according to the receiver’s standard, and blaming a father for wanting his kids’ happy and provided for when realistically the couple won’t be able to afford all this stuff in the near future is counterproductive.
Hachnasas Kallah is a mitzvah and if everybody followed your reasoning of which Tzeddakahs come first, even vital organizations like Hatzalah would be bankrupt — so there has to be some space for different POVs.
Don’t forget about good old peanut chews. Haven’t made that in a while but you’ll enjoy it if you’re craving sweets and can’t bake. There are similar oat based recipes online, I don’t recall if they need baking though. And there are some no bake cheesecakes out there also, although some ingredients may be hard to find.
Google “no bake ?” whatever you’re in the mood of, you’ll be surprised at the ideas out there. And learn to improvise to make stuff Kosher/parve. It’s actually fun…
Good luck!
GAW: At least in my world, the wedding night is NOT the main expense. It’s clothing for everybody, especially a kallah, houseware, linen, furniture, gifts for the Chosson/kallah (jewelry, silver becher, shas etc.), perhaps refresh an apartment etc. Not to mention Shabbos Sheva Brochos which is a mesechta for itself. Maybe some things can be cut back on, but it’s unfair almost to marry kids off young and not provide the stuff they’ll need the first year or so.
Does anybody know how much for example Kallah courses cost? This is just one expense that you don’t want to skimp on, but there are many others with varying degrees of importance. So yes, we’re talking a couple of 10ks total.
And some kids would probably rather wait a few years than get married without anything, but we as a klall should discourage it, as it’s counterproductive and against Yiddishkeit as we know it.
GAW: what family size are your assumptions based on? For six kids, for example (and I know they’re not all born at once nowadays…) we’re talking $260 a month. That’s a lot of money to be able to put away for an average family. It would definitely be nice, but hard to implement with tuition costs, housing etc.
As an aside is it just me or have the Kosher grocery prices been soaring lately?
I believe the real estate market in Israel is (or used to be) structured differently than in the States. Because the Medinah didn’t want people to run when trouble arose a rental market was dissuaded. Perhaps someone here can fill in the details as I’m not sure exactly how.
Unfortunately many people here live hand to mouth and can’t mangage to save up. It’s a mindset as well as a result of the high cost of living and high living standard. Waiting to get married would be disastrous. Although fundraising is not preferred, it’s probably better than starting a new home with credit card debt.
There’s a reason “Hachnasas Kallah” is rewarded in this world and the world to come. It’s literally a life saver/creator. The first mitvah in the Torah is nothing to sneeze at either.
Yep. Be careful! Some hooks are really sharp…
It helps but not for all types of mosquitos. And it’s not perfect either. So if it’s not working for you sue the mosquitos…
Well, when you fish you may turn up a turtle…
It’s okay Goq. You’re not missing out. Olives are way better than capers.
Newbee: by bringing another example you are not negating the study. Even if the only reason married people are healthier is due to finances, which I doubt, and the reason women are better off is because they’re married — they’re still better off.
Actually, you’re being too kind. The term Ultra-Orthodox is hardly used. It’s generally replaced by Hasidic, which has a more obscure “ring” to it and implies a blind follower with no mind of his own. And in case you didn’t know one doesn’t have to be Chasidish to qualify – wearing a “black hat” is good enough.
At least that’s my take on it…
Many people would appreciate homemade challah for Shabbos Hagodol as they don’t have a chance to bake any. If you get the word out to friends, family and neighbors I’m sure they’ll be gone pretty soon.
Or call your local “Shabbos package” organization, or perhaps a Bikkur Cholim.
Maybe I’m selfish, but I wouldn’t want my perfectly good, slaved over challos to go to the birds…