**Dear Jew in the City,**
I live in Hollywood, California, and here there is a community full of Orthodox Jews with beards and everything. I was wondering, where do they work? How do they make money? I have never seen an Orthodox Jew outside of this neighborhood. I’ve been in many business places, offices, etc., and have never seen an Orthodox man working there.
Also, do you guys wear the suits 24/7? In the house? Camping, beach, etc.?
And second, I’ve never seen an Orthodox Jewish couple out on a date somewhere like the movies or dinner. You guys don’t go out much or what?
Sincerely,
Raj
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**Hi Raj,**
All good questions! I understand your curiosity—I’m sure we Orthodox Jews can be a bit puzzling from the outside looking in.
Since I’m Jew in the City (based in New York City), I’m not personally familiar with the Orthodox community in Hollywood, California, but I’ll answer your questions to the best of my ability based on what I know about Orthodox men who have beards, hats, and suits.
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### Who Are You Seeing?
First of all, not all Orthodox men wear hats, have beards, and suits. Those who do are generally considered “ultra-Orthodox” in English or “Chareidi” in Hebrew. (Though sometimes you may see a Modern Orthodox rabbi in a black hat, suit, and beard.)
It’s hard to tell from the outside, but there are actually many different types of Orthodox Jews out there! Even the ultra-Orthodox world is made up of many groups. The two main ones are:
– **Chasidic**
– **Yeshivish**
Within the Chasidic world, there’s a group called Lubavitch (or Chabad) that differs a bit in dress and philosophy. They tend to be more involved with the larger world.
I don’t know for sure which subgroup you’re seeing in Hollywood, but with black hats, suits, and beards, my best guess would be either Yeshivish or Lubavitch.
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### 1) Where Do Orthodox Men Work?
For the most part, people in the ultra-Orthodox world are less focused on college education compared to Centrist or Modern Orthodox communities. This means there tend to be fewer professionals, although some definitely exist.
Men who work typically have jobs such as:
– Teachers in Jewish schools
– Rabbis
– Various business roles
For example, in Manhattan, there’s a famous electronics store called B&H Photo owned and run by Chasidim, and many Chasidim also work in the diamond district.
Many Yeshivish men study Torah full-time, similar to grad students—they receive a stipend to live on while learning, and usually have wives who work.
In Lubavitch circles, many men and women are *shluchim* (emissaries). Their job is to start new Jewish communities, open synagogues, build Jewish schools, and reach out to unaffiliated Jews. These *shluchim* raise their own salaries through running non-profits.
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### 2) Do Men Wear Suits 24/7 — Even at Home, Camping, or the Beach?
I’m not personally ultra-Orthodox nor married to an ultra-Orthodox man (I’d categorize myself as Centrist Orthodox), so I can’t say exactly what these men wear 24 hours a day. But I’m pretty sure they don’t sleep in black suits!
From what I’ve seen, some ultra-Orthodox men wear a white shirt and dark pants nearly all the time, even for outdoor activities like hiking. The idea is that a Jew should have a recognizable, distinct appearance, and black-and-white clothing became the standard in those circles.
Some men wear suit jackets in addition to the shirt and pants (though hats or jackets are rarely worn on hikes). Black hats may be worn during the week or only on the Sabbath.
Within the Chasidic community, different groups distinguish themselves partly by dress, including various styles of hats—some fedora-like, others made of fur—and different types of coats.
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### 3) Why Haven’t I Seen Orthodox Jewish Couples Out on Dates Like Dinner or Movies?
You probably haven’t seen them dining out because they only eat in kosher restaurants. Regarding movies, you’re right: most ultra-Orthodox Jews do not watch movies.
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### A Note on Orthodox Diversity
It’s important not to assume that ultra-Orthodox practices represent the entire Orthodox Jewish world. Some things are Jewish law—such as eating kosher, observing the Sabbath, and praying—while others are community customs or traditions influenced by philosophy.
Historically, Jews were forced to live separately from non-Jews (in ghettos). When Jews were eventually allowed to live outside ghettos, a choice arose: stay separate or integrate more with wider society while maintaining Jewish law.
– Those who chose separation are today’s **ultra-Orthodox**, who believe too much mixing with secular society threatens observance, so they dress distinctly, avoid secular education, and avoid secular culture.
– Those who chose to integrate while remaining observant are termed **Modern Orthodox**.
Modern Orthodox is a broad term, so for simplicity, I’ll divide it into:
– **Right-Wing Modern (Centrist Orthodox):** Maintain balance of societal involvement with Jewish law.
– **Liberal Modern:** More lenient about some laws, committing mainly to major ones like Sabbath and kosher, but sometimes less strict on modesty or daily prayer.
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### Where Do Modern Orthodox Jews Work?
Both Right-Wing Modern and Liberal Modern Jews work in a variety of professional fields since they generally value secular education. Common professions include:
– Doctors
– Lawyers
– Finance
– Accounting
– Computer science
You might have seen them without realizing it—these men may not wear yarmulkes at work and dress like others in their professions.
Right-Wing Modern men often wear khakis or slacks and colored shirts; Liberal Modern men may wear anything, including jeans and shorts.
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### Dining and Entertainment Among Modern Orthodox
Right-Wing Modern Jews rarely eat at non-kosher restaurants unless kosher food is brought in or at work events. Liberal Modern Jews might sometimes eat dairy or salads at non-kosher places.
Both groups attend movies, though Right-Wing Modern individuals tend to be more selective about movie content, avoiding immodest films, while Liberal Modern tend to be less cautious.
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### Final Thoughts
Even with this in-depth explanation, I’ve simplified a lot, but I hope it clears up some of your questions!
All the best,
Allison (aka Jew in the City)
https://jewinthecity.com/2018/02/do-orthodox-men-wear-suits-247/