I see them everywhere, in new suburban developments and in urban neighborhoods: gigantic homes that could house a tribe, let alone an average family, and sometimes contain such perks as indoor pools. Labeled McMansions in the 1980s, Jews are building them and moving into them in droves.
There is a positive and a negative to these Jewish McMansions, at least as I have seen it play out in my old neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, and in suburban neighborhoods around the country.
In our old neighborhood of Midwood, Brooklyn, the McMansion-building craze means that families desirous of larger or more comfortable space are remaining in the neighborhood instead of moving to the suburbs. This is good for the Jews and for the city.
Particularly in the Syrian Jewish community focused around Ocean Parkway, McMansions are a sign that families are making a commitment to remain within walking distance of each other. Grandchildren grow up with their grandparents and cousins around the corner or a short bike ride away. They can spend Shabbat and holidays together, helping to cement traditional observance down through the generations. It also means that the social ties that support neighborhood institutions like synagogues and the community center remain strong.
Such stability is also good for the larger neighborhood. While it is true many of the children in these homes attend private Jewish day schools, McMansions mitigate white flight, helping to sustain an integrated neighborhood.
The down side, of course, is conspicuous consumption. McMansions represent big money. The owners are more than successful; they are wealthy (in an upper-middle-class sort of way). If our immigrant grandparents (or great grandparents) did not find America’s streets paved with gold, we, at least, can tile our bathrooms in marble accented by gold fixtures.
That is why, when I see a McMansion, I wonder how much tzedakah (charity) the family gives. In the suburbs, I also wonder what it would be like if the builder had built within the same fascade a multi-family dwelling that looked as good but provides affordable middle-class housing for the hard-working teachers, civil-service, health-care, and office workers who are being priced out of the county in which I now live by the proliferation of such McMansions.
The affordable-housing folks in my community tell me it is possible for the builders to make the same profit; all that is lacking is a commitment to try. That also used to be part of the Jewish American dream: to try to see that everyone could have the same chance to live comfortably and safely by working hard.
I hope it still is part of our dream.
Jewish McMansions and the American Dream
Monday October 23, 2006
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This blog is no longer updated and is closed for comments. We welcome your comments about Judaism in our Judaism forums.
Brad Hirschfield currently blogs on Windows and Doors.
Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of You Don’t Have To Be Wrong For Me To Be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism. Listed as one of the nation’s 50 most influential rabbis in Newsweek, and a regular commentator on Court TV, he is the creator of the popular series, Building Bridges, airing on Bridges TV, and the co-host of the weekly radio show, Hirschfield and Kula.
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I just spent a lovely Shabbos at the home of the alter Rebbi and Rebitzin of the Chabad Shull were I attend services, being 11 miles away, need to drive. It was a real treat to be invited to walk to their home - a more "shomer" Shabbos for me - an "Orthordox at heart lady". I am sure their home was chosen to accomadate guests - as they have a large family and freguent overnight guests. I would call it a fairly modest home with lots of book cases linning the walls, with plenty of room for a large table and a super size TV and an up-stairs. With the essence of Shabbat in the air it certainly did not occur to me to judge my hosts on the value of their home - which I am sure is very high in the middle class neighborhood in which they live. Why are we concerned with the homes of the Orthodox anyway? This elderly couple with their love for fellow Jews and dedication to the Chabad movement deserve the blessings of HaShem if you ask me. This topic has sure generated a lot of comments! hehe - Kinda of shows us, as a people: Are we Coveteous? Are we jealous? Are we mean spitirted? Are we condeming? Are we angry? Are we judmental spies? Do we think we need to play the part that only HaShem should have in the lives of our fellow Jews? Are we so low in our own self-esteem we need to build ourselves up by slamming the wealthy? Its all nuts if you ask me. I learned from our hostess who is originally from N.Y. that Calif. is slow and laid back - not fast - as I posted earlier -( I was thinking of the freeways.) I have never been to N.Y. (Yet) I also learned that in N.Y. people dress up everyday, not just on Shabbos. There is a big emphasis on clothes. A Jewish woman (heaven forbid) was caught stealing clothes because she feared her children would not be accepted if not dressed like the "Jones's"! Maybe this topic has been good as it seems as Jews we all need to serioulsy ponder our values. The American cultue can affect any religiours culture in the negative I think. Or maybe it's just human nature. Whatever it is we need to leave it in the hands of a power much higher that ours, I think, and take care of our own space and ability to do mitzvot whatever that is, whatever branch of Judaism we have choosen. Shvo-a-tov all. HaShem's blessings to all.
Obviously, I've struck a nerve. It's good to see that all those "Politically Correct" and Oh-so-Sensitive Yenta Hausfraus in their college years during the '60's and '70's found a home after the Clinton Years. Unfortunately, from the look of these discussions, that home is here. You all need to get over the idea that capitalism is bad. You also need to get over the idea that there is something inherently evil about people enjoying their lives in a way that doesn't involve politically correct hair shirt misery. Free will and choice are an essential element of our religion. That essentiality extends to all aspects of life, and not just to Daddy having a Boyfriend or little Moshe having two Mommies. Criticizing the exercise of free will and personal choice to aspects of life you don't approve of, while insisting that your priorities (and your priorities alone) are deserving of protection, is hypocritical and phony. Once again, exactly the kind of thing a clucking busybody with too much time on their hands would consider morality, and exactly the kind of corrosive jealousy that our religion can ill afford and deserves, no demands, to be called out. I frankly don't give a damn whether I hurt anybody's feelings or not in my observations on this matter. The fact of the matter is, we don't criticize wrongs or promote self-evident right often enough. Most of our religion is so busy trying to avoid hurting anybody's feelings that we've succumbed to accepting increasingly offensive behavior as the norm. We accept increasing anti-semitism because we're afraid that confronting it, and the other attendant evils in the world, will only make folks angrier. According to so many of our own, ignoring evil will make it go away, and those who make a fuss are only judgmental and inflexible. Suicidally wrong in the 1930's, and wrong now. As a religion and a people, we need to put aside the inward looking "Holier Than Thou" attitude that leads to worthless discussions like this and concentrate on far more important issues. Nonsense like this detracts from the more important issues at hand, and emphasizes the trivializing demasculinization and increasing feminization of our religion. So go ahead, let the furious ad hominem attacks begin.
...and emphasizes the (?)trivializing(?) demasculinization and increasing feminization of our religion. Gee whiz, jonfox, you say this as though it's a bad thing... (no fury or ad hominem in that post, right?)
Rabbi Grossman, From 1986-89, while I was the US Army Jewish Chaplain in Stuttgart, DE, I met Larry Kaufman, who was a committed Jewish young man, working at Patch Barracks. Years later I learned that he had married a rabbi and settled in Columbia, MD. Now that I've happened on your blog, I'm wondering if you are that rabbi? If so, I would love to re-establish the friendship. i'm now retired and remarried in Daytona Beach, FL. IF you are the couple, I look forward eaagerly to a reply. SHABBAT SHALOM Howard
There is an Irish saying, "A Man's Grasp Should Exceed His Arm....Or What's A Heaven For?" I have always felt that the more you have, the more you can give away to help others. I firmly beiieve in "my" version of the Vulcan Greeting in "Star Trek": "Live Long and Prosper....and help others to do the same!" In an article for HADASSAH Magazine some time back, Mr. Nimoy stated that the Vulcans in Star Trek were a thinly disguised way of portraying the Jews. I see nothing wrong with this....or my above extention of the Vulcan greeting! As long as those with "McMansions", (Jews and everyone else), also contribute to their own versions of "Ronald McDonald Houses", (ie: charity), I see nothing wrong with building the best places they can afford. Of course, there ALSO is the traditional Jewish ideal of NEVER buying ANY house....but only renting an apartment....because one may want to go to Eretz Yisroel the moment it becomes holy enough and available to go to. Many orthodox Jews still have this mindset--- and that's OK with me, as long as they don't push this idea on those of us who don't agree with it. I was once innocently taking a walk around my garden apartment neighbourhood. I shared a 5-room co-op apartment, (975 square feet), with my mother...as my sister had married and my father had died. A woman I barely knew came up to me and said, "Gee, that's a pretty big apartment for only 2 people!" I was tired, and didn't want to spend too much time with this "bud-insky", so I said, 'Maybe you're right'....and walked away as fast as I could. I am now in the process of acquiring a 1500 square foot condo for myself, alone. It is NOT a McMansion...but I do hope to get one, some day. Will I? I don't know....but at least I can have happy moments dreaming of it. The traditional Jewish "tseducka", (charity) is 15-20%. No more. says Jewish tradition...or you won't have anything for yourself. I figure, the more I have, the more I can give away! Peace!