The most fascinating branches of a religion are often the most extreme, the most different from the dominant denomination. Two of these groups are the Hasidic Jews and the Amish, a sect of Christianity. If shown a photo of a member of one of these sects, the average person would not be able to identify which group they belonged to. However, although "their common style of dress does reflect common values ​​of piety, extreme traditionalism, and separation," these groups are extremely different ("A Brief Introduction"). Beyond the obvious difference in ideology in that Hasidism is based on Orthodox Judaism and the Amish tradition in Christianity, not to mention the various groups within these separatist umbrellas, there are stark differences in origins , beliefs, practices and the way each group interacts. with the secular world. Hasidism emerged from Orthodox Judaism in Central and Eastern Europe in the late 18th century. It was a “call for spiritual renewal and protest against the dominant religious establishment” (“A Brief History”). Hasidim means “the pious” in Hebrew. The group formed around a stricter adherence to Jewish law than most surrounding religious centers. Hasidism began to migrate to America after World War II, as Holocaust survivors sought a new start. To a greater degree than many immigrant groups, Hasidic immigrants to America have sought to maintain their community and reestablish their former lives. This allowed them to keep many traditions of per-Holocaust Eastern European Judaism alive in the New World. Traditions that, in most cases, continue to today's Hasids, such as the use of Yiddish as the dominant language. Hasidic communities settled and remained in population centers, notably...... middle of paper ...... its unique way of life. Works Cited Berger, Joseph. “Dress with faith, not warmth, in spirit.” New York Times. New York Times, June 28, 2012. Web. November 26, 2013. “A Brief Introduction to Hasidism.” A life apart: Hasidism in America. Ed. Dov B. Katz. PBS, 1998. Web. November 26, 2013. Kraybill, Donald B., Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher. The Amish Way: Patient Faith in a Perilous World. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2010. Print.Mintz, Jerome R. The Hasidics: A Place in the New World. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1992. “A Niche in Modernity” in print. A life apart: Hasidism in America. Ed. Dov B. Katz. PBS, 1998. Web. November 26, 2013. .Trollinger, Susan L. Selling the Amish: Nostalgia Tourism. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2012. Print.