The Amish and Hasidic Religious Systems

The Amish Church resulted from dissension within the Mennonite religious sect of Europe. The principle point of disagreement that caused the rift was the interpretation of the "Meidung," the practice of shunning or avoiding a member of the church who had broken a rule. The Mennonites interpreted Meidung as merely excluding the banned person from the communion table. Jakob Ammann, insisted that Meidung meant shunning the banned person at every occasion (even family gatherings) until the person repented and had been forgiven. The controversy over Meidung widened and Ammann's followers, known as the Amish, were as stubborn and inflexible as Ammann himself, which led to the inevitable split: "Ammann privately confronted those who were erring and asked them to mend their ways. When they refused admonition he . . . was forced to excommunicate those who would not reform."

The first Amish came to the United States during the 1720s, joining a wave of German migration. The Amish mostly settled in the Midwest (particularly Ohio and Pennsylvania), creating cultural islands with a comm

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chools of higher learning . . . As soon as the law will allow, Amish children are taken out of school for work at home." The Amish and Hasidim are similar in their attitudes toward proselytizing and contact with the outside world. Granted, the Lubavitcher Hasidim are more open to outsiders; members of this group often conduct aggressive sidewalk campaigns and outreach programs: "Placing great faith in what he believes to be a desire for higher spiritual values among the young, the [Lubavitcher] Rebbe has sent hundreds of emissaries to speak at colleges and universities." Most Hasidim, however, are suspicious of outsiders, as are the Amish. The Amish focus on defending their solidarity and preventing their baptized members from succumbing to the temptations of the outside world. Likewise, Hasidim avoid eating in non-Jewish homes and limit their contact with people and circumstances they consider irreligious. Although existing within the framework of orthodox Judaism, the Hasidim have established their own unique ultra-orthodox way of life. A part of the practice of both the Amish and Hasidic religions involves dress styles. Hasidic adult males are usually bearded and dressed in black hats and dark suits. This descriptio
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Approximate Word count = 2380
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)