In 1987, a group of Lubavitchers, one of the most orthodox and zealous of the Jewish sects, opened a kosher slaughterhouse just outside tiny Postvi...
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Dec 13, 2008
Cwn_annwn_13
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Postville: A Clash of Cultures in Heartland America looks at how tensions gradually erupt between locals and hasidic Jews who opened a kosher slaughterhouse in a rural farming community. This book was written by a secular Jew from the west coast who had moved to Iowa to take a job as a university professor.
While the author certainly has issues of his own (he actually cites the scoutmaster mentioning Jesus Christ at his sons Boy Scouts meeting as an example of anti-semitism he has ex More...
While the author certainly has issues of his own (he actually cites the scoutmaster mentioning Jesus Christ at his sons Boy Scouts meeting as an example of anti-semitism he has ex More...
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Oct 02, 2009
Kecia
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Having spent some time in Postville, pre-Hasidic Jew period, it was shocking to see how the town of working farmers was turned upside down and at complete odds with their new neighbors.
Now, after the fall of Agri-Processors (kosher meat plant), it gives even more perspective as to why the town was so angry about the influx of the Jewish sect that refused to interact with the 'natives'. Not only did they end up changing the landscape of the town, they have forever left a stain on the More...
Now, after the fall of Agri-Processors (kosher meat plant), it gives even more perspective as to why the town was so angry about the influx of the Jewish sect that refused to interact with the 'natives'. Not only did they end up changing the landscape of the town, they have forever left a stain on the More...
Feb 06, 2010
Ron
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Interesting portrayal of the orthodox/Hasidim in Iowa, and moreso from the perspective of a modern/Reform Jew from the west coast. As much of the drama/interest arose from the clash between ancient and modern judaism as from the clash between the Hasidim and the rural Iowan farmers. Expected observations of bigotry/racism from both sides were there, though those of the Iowans seemed half-hearted compared to those of the Hasidim, but that might just have been the author's portrayal. Also, I fe
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Apr 07, 2009
Betsy
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Having covered the fallout from the 2008 immigration raid in Postville as a reporter, this book was required reading - but it was published in 2001 so it was outdated in many ways. It did provide still-useful background about the Lubavitchers' early years in town and their eccentric way of life. But I was irritated that the book was as much about the author and his urban-Jew-out-of-water struggle to get used to living in Iowa after moving here from San Francisco (poor bubbala.) Bloom made Iowa C
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Jun 12, 2009
skye
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I give this only 3 stars because the writing quality wasn't "great literature", or interesting writing, but rather what you'd get if you took an Atlantic article and stretched it to 400 pages. So it's great journalism, but as a BOOK, I want literary quality too.
Now, as journalism, and a story of cultures... it was fascinating. Actually "tremendum et fascinans". Both fascinating and revolting.... because he digs so deeply in criticism of the Hasidic culture that i More...
Now, as journalism, and a story of cultures... it was fascinating. Actually "tremendum et fascinans". Both fascinating and revolting.... because he digs so deeply in criticism of the Hasidic culture that i More...
Mar 31, 2011
Michigosling
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As somebody who lived in Iowa for years and knows many Lubavitchers, of course I had to read this book. It's a fascinating and important subject. Even before reading it, I knew enough to boycott the meat producer in question, and the information Bloom revealed (assuming that it's all true) only deepened my conviction.
In the hands of a less arrogant, less self-absorbed, and less narrow-minded author, this could have been a great book. Bloom might claim to be impartial, and perhap More...
In the hands of a less arrogant, less self-absorbed, and less narrow-minded author, this could have been a great book. Bloom might claim to be impartial, and perhap More...
Jun 07, 2009
Lee Anne
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A group of Hasidic Jews move to a dying Iowa town and open a Kosher slaughterhouse. A non-practicing reform Jewish journalist, who moved to Iowa City to teach at the University of Iowa, hears about it and goes there to check it out.
This book ended up being more a memoir about author Stephen Bloom and HIS interpretation of the motives and feelings of the townspeople and the Hasidim. I'm not saying his perceptions are wrong, but it does seem as if a lot of conclusions are jumped to wi More...
This book ended up being more a memoir about author Stephen Bloom and HIS interpretation of the motives and feelings of the townspeople and the Hasidim. I'm not saying his perceptions are wrong, but it does seem as if a lot of conclusions are jumped to wi More...
Jul 22, 2009
Shek
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The only somewhat predictable story of what happens in isolated northeastern Iowa when Brooklyn Lubavitchers swoop in and set up shop in an abandoned meat packing plant. Absolutely engrossing, albeit slightly predictable; many old-timers in town are naturally anti-semitic, others are understandably exasperated by the hasids' insular (sometimes hostile) ways. And those haredi Jews, it's almost as if they want nothing to do with secular society!
This is a first-hand account by a transpl More...
This is a first-hand account by a transpl More...
Aug 02, 2008
David
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Postville is in the news again, after federal raids led to the arrest of many mostly Guatemalan immigrants who worked at the kosher slaughterhouse in northeast Iowa.
Postville was a rather homogeneously German-American town when a Hasidic Jew bought a derelict building on the outskirts and turned it into a kosher slaughterhouse.
This book is partly a memoir of the author, who teaches journalism at the University of Iowa, and struggles rather long-windedly with identity is More...
Postville was a rather homogeneously German-American town when a Hasidic Jew bought a derelict building on the outskirts and turned it into a kosher slaughterhouse.
This book is partly a memoir of the author, who teaches journalism at the University of Iowa, and struggles rather long-windedly with identity is More...
Jan 04, 2008
Amanda
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Part memoir, part literary journalism, Postville: A Clash of Cultures in Heartland America is written by Stephen Bloom, a college professor from San Francisco who takes a teaching position at the University of Iowa, his wife and young son in tow. As a Jewish family amongst the strong Norwegian population, the Blooms immediately feel like outsiders. Bloom, a non-practicing Jew, yearns for some sort of connection with other Jews in Iowa. That’s when he decides to travel to Postville, Iowa, home to
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Oct 13, 2010
Jennifer
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In the 1980s, a group of ultra-Orthodox Jews bought a slaughterhouse in a small Iowa town and turned it into one of the most successful Kosher slaughterhouses in the world. Closer to home, the Iowas natives experienced a culture clash no one could have described. Bloom's book is evenhanded and provides a sense of tension as the town gears up to vote on annexation, which would bring the slaughterhouse into the city limits and under more local control.
Oct 19, 2009
Sharon
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A book that I have had on my shelves for years. I had never read anything about Hasidic Jews. I actually bought the book because of its cover shot of four Iowa farmers in their overalls or suspenders sitting on a bench looking curiously at a Hasidic Jew as he walked by. Their attempt to co-exist was a delicious thought to consider so I bought the book. It was a good read, although at times it felt like it was written more like a magazine article.
Jul 28, 2011
The subject of this book was fascinating - the integration or lack thereof of a group of Hasidic Jews who operate a kosher slaughterhouse into a small NE Iowa town. It was well-researched and well-written by a reformed Jewish professor at the University of Iowa. The townspeople were divided in their sentiments towards the Hasidim - and the book seems to reflect all opinions. A really interesting story happening . . . in the middle of nowhere!
Jun 25, 2009
Chris
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I was fascinated by this book. Having made the reverse trek, from Iowa to Brooklyn, I was totally engrossed in this book. Totally fascinating, I didn't want to stop reading once I began.
I have read reviews talking about it being dated material, too much memoir not enough journalistic rigour,and other critiques regarding its status as past tense. I can accept that, but I enjoyed the personal quality to the book and thought that was what made it timeless as one person's experience More...
I have read reviews talking about it being dated material, too much memoir not enough journalistic rigour,and other critiques regarding its status as past tense. I can accept that, but I enjoyed the personal quality to the book and thought that was what made it timeless as one person's experience More...
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Jun 10, 2010
Deborah
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Bloom writes about what happened in Postville, Iowa, in the 1990's, when a group of Lubbavitcher Hassidim moved into a sleepy Iowa town to run a kosher slaughter house. It's a fascinating story framed by Bloom's own journey from urban, coastal, California to the high corn of the heartland. The personal narrative, I thought, was less successful than the exposition, although Bloom's Jewishness is an important element of the story.
Nov 24, 2007
Samira
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Technically, I should not be rating this book, because of my policy not to rate exam reading, but this is definately a popular book, not a history. It was interesting and engaging, but I also thought that it dragged--it might have done well about 50 pages shorter. Which is not to say that there are 50 pages that I would say should just go, more that it needed a good editor and some trimming. The book is about the twon of Postville, which was brought back to economic life by the opening of a L
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Nov 08, 2010
Having actually been in this town and having grown up in Iowa, the issues presented here are from the perspective of a double outsider. The town is brilliant and dimwitted at the same time. But I love my time whenever I have been able to go.
Bloom, on the other hand is easily confused and acts (g-d willing) more perplexed than anyone really should be. The solution is easy but neither side knows how to communicate.
Bloom, on the other hand is easily confused and acts (g-d willing) more perplexed than anyone really should be. The solution is easy but neither side knows how to communicate.
Jun 30, 2009
Sherri
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Stephen Bloom is a Jewish journalist from San Francisco who moves his family to the U of Iowa to take a job as a journalism professor. He writes about the Lubavitchers, an ultra conservative Jewish sect and their Kosher meat market in small town Iowa. I found the conflict between the Lubavitchers and the Iowans fascinating, but the author's quest for his own cultural/religious identity was also really compelling. It was a quick read.
Nov 04, 2010
Adam
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This book is complete crap. The author clearly has a bias. He also did not even attempt to understand chassidic culture or even learn anything about it before writing this book. His story indicates that his hosts in postville were open and hospitable with him and in return he treated them with disdain and nastiness. What an asshole.
Feb 14, 2010
Amy
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An honest portrayal of interactions between ultra Orthodox Jews and small town America. A fascinating read that challenged many of my assumptions about integration and brought out my own prejudices for inspection. The writer has a lovely voice and brings his own journey into the story in a way that is enriching and heartfelt.
Nov 02, 2008
Rachel
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This book was about the culture clash in the small town of Postville, IA (population 1500) between the white, Christian locals and the Hasidic Jews who moved in the late 80s and turned an old slaughterhouse into a kosher slaughterhouse. The author is a Reform Jew so he brought an interesting perspective to the conflict as someone sort of in the middle of the two extremes living in Postville.
I really liked this book, it reads like a novel. The only thing that bothered me was the autho More...
I really liked this book, it reads like a novel. The only thing that bothered me was the autho More...
May 09, 2010
kenpen
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The story of the Hasidic Jews moving in to Postville, a very small Iowa town, was interesting. The cultural differences between the locals and the newcomers were so dramatic and worsened by the Jews total lack of desire to become part of the Postville culture. This is not to say that only the Jews should have been accommodating and aware, but the book gave so many examples of how they didn't even seem to care about their neighbors.
There were a couple times I had to give the author a More...
There were a couple times I had to give the author a More...
Nov 18, 2009
Marvin
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Bloom, who thinks Iowans look down on him because he's a Jew, here looks down on his subjects in small-town Iowa. Meanwhile, he looks down on the Hasidic Jews who move to Postville because they dare to take their religions seriously. His blinders cause him to miss much of the story--or get it wrong.
Apr 30, 2008
Janet
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A fascinating book...Bloom tries to be even-handed. Gives his best understanding of the perspectives of the residents of rural Postville, Iowa (white midwesterners, Hasidic Jews who open a kosher slaughterhouse) and his own reflections on their customs and communication with each other (and lack of it). This is a continuing saga as Latino slaughterhouse workers add another culture to the mix. One of the best books on the tapestry that results from the threads woven by various cultural perspectiv
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Jul 05, 2008
Michael
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An outstanding look at an American Jew's struggle for identity.
The author, a Reform Jew, explores his own culture and faith during a series of encounters with the ultra-conservative Lubovitch Jews who had recently settled in Postville, Iowa to run an enormous meat-packing plant.
The account is a rich look into a culture that is quite alien to American Gentiles. It is also a very personal accounting of the author's struggles with his own cultural identity.
Well More...
The author, a Reform Jew, explores his own culture and faith during a series of encounters with the ultra-conservative Lubovitch Jews who had recently settled in Postville, Iowa to run an enormous meat-packing plant.
The account is a rich look into a culture that is quite alien to American Gentiles. It is also a very personal accounting of the author's struggles with his own cultural identity.
Well More...
Mar 10, 2010
Margaret
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I knew nothing about this meat plant and all that happened there. The attitude of the owners is, to me, truly shocking, especially their lack of concern for the well-being of workers. An easy way to learn something and be made to think.
Apr 26, 2011
Tracy
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Since I grew up 15 miles from this town, I had to read it. The author's descriptions of small-town life are spot-on. I also learned a lot from his writing about the Hasidic Jewish people, and the Jewish religion, in general.
Mar 15, 2011
Carissa
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I was able to read this because it is so close to home for me (my parents live 10 min. from this town) If you are unfamiliar with this town in Iowa you probably won't have much of an interest in the book and will struggle to get through it. I felt like it was an eye opener and felt more knowledgeable after reading it.
Oct 17, 2007
Maurice
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An interesting education in some values of the Lubavitchers. It was no news to me that the religious zealots of any faith cultivate a repugnant rejection of all outsiders. I was pleased to note that they share one thing with the former Duchess of Windsor: the stack of separated squares of toilet tissue in the bathroom! She had her staff do it, after neatly folding them--I guess to let her guests do only that which others could not do for them in their indelicate chore; the Lubavitchers to avo
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Nov 11, 2008
Jsnyder02
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This was an intriguing book on a subject that I've read about in the past and found interesting, the presence of a Chasidic community in Iowa that manages the large meatpacking plant (which has now become famous of late for its employment controversy, but has been troubled long before that). At times, the book seemed unfair to Jews, and it does definitely have an anti-religion bias, but at times the Chasidic Jews also behaved in embarrassing ways. Overall, whether you agree with the author's con
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