Do you consider Passaic out of town

↑ Molly Weasley ↓

Today at 6:42 am

Btw, I love Passaic just because it's out of town.

It's not a chip on the shoulder! you should be proud of it.

Everyone feels welcome there, I've never felt out of place in any establishment or shul I've been to. The shabbos park is amazing. As is the local chessed.
But these are the classic Hallmarks of being out of town. Unfortunately, being in town means unless you're hocker you're anonymous.

That's BH not what happens Passaic.

amother

↑ Amaranthus ↓

Today at 6:58 am

amother Begonia wrote:

I think Passaic still has the out of town feeling.

Which I’m saying as a compliment.

Agreed, it is in town with a nice out of town feeling in the best way. People greets others, there's a real warmth, less strict fashion rules (but getting worse), different types mingle, etc.

But PLENTY of jewish infrastructure!!!!!! That comment was SO off base.

amother

Crocus ↓

Today at 7:00 am

I grew up in Passaic, so was there starting around 25 years ago. I considered it more in town than Lakewood at the time (it was closer to the city and Lakewood gave off shtetl vibes from what I knew of it lol). But of course Lakewood became in town as time went on and Passaic changed too but not as much as Lakewood.

amother

Quince ↓

Today at 7:04 am

This is a question of relatively. So there’s not right or wrong answer. No reason for either side to get defensive.
I moved from lkwd to Passaic.
My kids are in yeshiva Ketana. To me it has very much an OOT/ community school vibe.
My schools here vs my schools in lkwd are WORLDS apart. I’m way happier with the school here.
As for the infrastructure, it’s all relative but to me it’s lacking. Brook haven is amazing. And I think compared to other communities this size we have a lot but there’s some basics that just never made it here… we need a bakery and a candy shop in a store front, we need a woman’s shoe store .. just small examples..
but overall it’s a beautiful place and the things is lacking are very easily accessible less than 30 mins away

amother

↑ Amaranthus ↓

Today at 7:08 am

Molly Weasley wrote:

Thriving is a strong word, it is growing though. It's a small town. Literally

Your school options are either A or B. As for groceries, it's the same—just A or B. And the pizza shop? You guessed it: A or B.

The kids wear the exact same clothing bought in the exact same stores.

There is a variety of shuls, but even the most yeshivish doesn't compare to average Lakewood.

The most Chassidish shul doesn't hold a candle to brooklyn.

It's out if town.

It's literally not a small town, maybe 25 years ago.

I agree that it FOR SURE has an out of town feel. Which we LOVE.
But you are wrong about it not having much jewish infrastructure.

Do you know how big the schools are?
There are 3 elementary school options for both boys and girls. YKP has 6 parallel classes for girls and 6 for boys. Then there is also YBH and the Cheder boys and girls.

There are 2 girls high schools and many mesivtas.

You can buy sushi in at least 5 places.

There are many kollels.

The most yeshivish here CERTAINLY do compare to average Lakewood. Maybe you don't know that part of the community, but there is the Yeshivish passaic and the general passaic type. Majority of the yeshivish passaic are lakewood type in terms of how yeshivish.

Passaic is NOT a chassidish community, there are no chassidish people living here, so of course it doesn't hold a candle to brooklyn in that regard, lol.

I happen to LOVE living in passaic because it has all the jewish infrastructure and yet SUCH a nice out of town feel with the warmth, kindness, achdus, bein adam l'chaveiro, etc. We are so happy it's NOT like some of the big towns with all the downsides of that.

amother

Scarlet

Today at 7:12 am

amother Quince wrote:

I feel very similarly about the school and one of the things I love most about living here.
The shopping won't feel like in town to me until I can do all my frum shopping locally with multiple options for each type of store/item. And to be clear, I'm happy with the way the infrastructure is, I don't mind going to Monsey a few times a year or before a simcha but that's my answer to OP's question.

amother

↑ Begonia ↓

Today at 7:38 am

I don’t think out of town means a hick town. I think it’s a good thing not to lose your small town feel like other towns have.

My sister recently moved from Passaic but while there she did travel to have more shopping options for herself and her children.
While Passaic has lots of infrastructure and options it doesn’t have as much as larger communities offer.

The girls in high school I know from Passaic seem to know most of the high school girls in their town. When playing Jewish geography with them it’s easy and fun. Try a girl from lkwd. They don’t even know the girls in their grade in the same school.

amother

Viola

Today at 7:46 am

I do think Passaic is oot.
Similar to Baltimore or Chicago.
It's a more accepting vibe, where externals literally are irrelevant and the various umbrellas are very wide

Passaic does have the additional "intown" benefit of being in NJ so the legal resources, the political resources are there, way more than Baltimore or Chicago.
Also the physical proximity to Monsey

That's not a good or bad thing.
Just fact

amother

Forestgreen

Today at 7:53 am

amother Amaranthus wrote:

Just came to add, I am not being defensive, I am just bothered by the false statements.
Of course it's not lakewood or monsey (with it's pros and cons), but it's not the hick town some are describing.

Molly Weasley, I'm curious. Do you think everyone knows each other here?

OOT doesn't mean hick town.

shabbatiscoming ↓

Today at 7:56 am

amother Mayflower wrote:

What makes something oot is the question… Chicago is considered oot but it’s a huge thriving community with tons of resources and more similar to monsey and Lakewood than Passaic in a lot of ways. So it’s all relative.

This. Ive asked this question too many times to count but nobody answers really.
And who decides what in or out of town is.
Such complete silliness really.

amother

↑ Quince

Today at 8:02 am

amother Scarlet wrote:

Same.
I’m here 2 years I think I bought 1 kids outfit here since I moved. I order every single things online. I needed tights that weren’t gray/black/cream and I ordered those online too..

ETA - I do lots of tottini, kidi chic etc. I’m not just talking Shabbos dresses. There’s just limited range of pricing when there’s one kids clothing store

↑ Molly Weasley ↓

Today at 8:10 am

amother Amaranthus wrote:

In terms of Jewish infrastructure, the amount of exclusively Jewish stores, buildings and organizations in Passaic is far far behind the 'in town' communities.

Of course not everyone knows who you are, but a good part of the community does.

In Lakewood, Monsey, Brooklyn no one knows you are once you leave your block. To the community at Large you're anonymous

Jewish infrastructure seems to be a sore point for many in passaic, I apologize.

Last edited by Molly Weasley on Wed, Nov 27 2024, 12:45 pm; edited 1 time in total

joonabug

Today at 8:10 am

how in the world can a community in nj be oot?? its 20 min away from nyc. honestly lakewood is way more out of town than passaic its practically on the jersey shore.
if youre refering to the people of passaic being nice, warm, and friendly, then yes it is def a warmer community than lakewood, bk, 5t etc

amother

↑ Begonia

Today at 8:17 am

shabbatiscoming wrote:

This. Ive asked this question too many times to count but nobody answers really.
And who decides what in or out of town is.
Such complete silliness really.

To me in town means a community which has the full infrastructure so that you can get everything anytime. You don’t have to travel out of your town to buy anything or do anything.

An abundance of kids and adult shopping options. Lots of all shopping options (hosiery, judaica, home goods, home repairs, etc.) not just 1-2 stores but choices. All price ranges.
Community with all amenities. Don’t need to travel for weddings, furniture, shopping, anything. It all local.

There is also the feeling of an in town community. It just doesn’t feel like a big town. There aren’t 100s of schools.
You may not know everyone but if you do travel for a simcha and someone is there from your town there is a good chance you’ll recognize you live in the same city.

amother

↑ Amaranthus ↓

Today at 8:17 am

Molly Weasley wrote:

In terms of Jewish infrastructure, the amount of exclusively Jewish stores, buildings and organizations in Passaic is far far behind the 'in town' communities.

To put things in perspective, Linden New Jersey and Staten Island NY has more to offer per capita for the average from person then Passaic. But that's not neither here nor there.

Of course not [b]everyone knows who you are, but a good part of the community does.[/b]

In Lakewood, Monsey, Brooklyn no one knows you are once you leave your block. To the community at Large you're anonymous

Jewish infrastructure seems to be a sore point for many in passaic, I apologize.

It has grown so so much in the past 25 years tht I can go to a local event and not know more than half the people there.

Again, not lakewood or brooklyn, but not like small OOT .