LOCAL JEWISH INSTITUTIONS
With the establishment and growth of the local kosher meat plant, Postville experienced growth in the number of Rabbis (Jewish scholars), many of whom had specialized training in the highly ritualistic techniques of kosher hand slaughtering (shochet). These rabbis were often young, and most had large families with seemingly ever-increasing numbers of children. As their numbers grew, so did their need for the special infrastructure it takes to support an Orthodox Jewish community.
- First was the synagogue, built in and around a large old farmhouse on the southern end of town. Today, there’s already two synagogues, the original one mainly for followers of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement often and the new one for followers of the other Chassidic groups.
- The preschool and segregated schools for younger boys and girls.
- The Yeshiva “Beit Shalom” a seminary for young Jewish men who are learning the Torah and other sacred scriptures. Today, Jewish families from throughout North America send their sons to Postville for rabbinical education in an idyllic, isolated, rural setting relatively free of big-city temptations and distractions.
- Mikvah ritual bath houses for men and women.
- Kosher market and Deli to support the dietary needs of the Jewish population. Soon a Kosher Pizza shop is about to open by a local Jewish resident.
- Bais Chabad and Jewish Welcome Center operated by Rabbi Aron Schimmel, an outreach center providing information on the Postville Jewish community for bypassers, visitors and tourists, as well as providing all Jewish needs for Jews throughout the tri state area.
LOCAL JEWISH BUSINESSES
Postville experienced growth in the number of Jewish residents relocating from other big city settings such as New York, California or the like, falling in love with this unique “Shtetl”-style living. Many of the newcomers opened businesses or moved their existing businesses to Postville (economically a wise move as well).
Some of the local Jewish businesses and professions include: family doctor, hospital beds, auto shop, electrician, honey making, Kosher cheese, frozen pizza production and much more.
(This text is in part taken with permission from the book: Postville U.S.A. by Mark Grey, Michele Devlin, Aron Goldsmith. Our thanks to them. For more info. about Postville we recommend reading this book.)
THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
On a typical day in Postville, one can find people from many different parts of the world walking the streets in traditional Orthodox Jewish garb, including the long black robes and distinctive hats of the local Jewish residents who put Postville on the map. On Shabbat, or the sabbath, which starts on Friday evenings and ends on Saturday night, Jews are forbidden to drive, so families walk through town on their way to the synagogue. Long beards and hats distinguish members of the different Jewish sects. Followers of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement often wear a traditional black, broad-rimmed fedora. Members of the Sigit movement wear large, saucer-shaped fur hats that may be two feet wide and about six inches tall. Members of the Belz sect also wear fur hats, but theirs look more like traditional Russian sable hats, rising up to a foot above the wearer’s head.
There are also members of the Vizhnitz movement, as well as other Orthodox and even secular Jews who come from diverse locations, ranging from Brooklyn, New York and New Jersey to Russia, Argentina, Lithuania and Israel. Every day, observant Jewish men wear kippas, or skullcaps, in public as a sign of commitment to G‑d. (Out of respect for the sacredness and holiness of the Divine Name, Orthodox Jews do not spell out the name of the creator in writings. This lessens the chance of it being erased, destroyed, or discarded, even in languages other than Hebrew.) The Jewish married women dress modestly and generally wear wigs or scarves in public out of modesty.
Among Orthodox Jews, gender segregation starts at an early age. Jewish children start attending boys’ or girls’ schools when they are about four years old. Adult activities outside the home, including worship, parties, and work are generally segregated, too.