Every religion has its fringe elements who have *ahem* interesting viewpoints. Here in New York, the Hasidic community has a group of followers who insist that their charismatic leader, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who died in 1994, is actually the Moshiach (Messiah), and are eagerly await his resurrection. Now, I ask you, is that any crazier than when the Apostles were selling the same special sauce 2,000 years ago?
If you’re in the right place at the right time, you’ll catch their fabulous parade of rented RVs that promote their beliefs. The RVs blast music and people hang out the windows and wave at New Yorkers, some who watch gape-mouthed. In this clip, I caught them on 6th Avenue just south of 42nd Street working their way uptown towards Rockefeller Center.
These seem to be benevolent folks whose core message, as far as I can tell, is one of promoting goodness and kindness. To me, they’re harmless nuts, unlike some other religious fringe groups who like to judge people and tell everyone how to live—or else.
Exile on Pain Street 
Could their proximity to 42nd Street be significant? ;-)As you say, beats the hell out of the other kind.
Who doesn’t love a parade? They should throw candy. When you do it yourself, every day is the 4th of July! Well, at least until it’s Easter, The Sequel.
“Easter, The Sequel”…. haha… love it!
A bit of loving kindness is always welcome.
dinah: Their proximity seems to be all over the place! They snake their way through Manhattan.daisy: Perhaps they timed this parade just before Palm Sunday to remind everyone who the REAL Messiah is. Who’s to say?nurse: I thought Easter was supposed to be a one-shot deal. A sequel you say?Pat: But there are too many nuts who just want to tear down in God’s name. I find it all very confusing.
How strange… And think of all the gas they used in those RVs! Do they really think their parade accomplishes anything? I find it confusing too…
to believe or not to believe is the question, sugar and the answer is as varied as the number of people asking! my only question: how the hell to they pay for all that gas for those rv’s???? xoxox
Ponita: That’s an excellent point. Who looks at a long line of slow moving rented RVs and decides to examine their own faith? Sav: Actually, my understanding is that the Hasidic community is quite comfortable and can easily spring for the gas. And they look like they’re having a lot of fun in the process!
It’s the whole organized religion thing that gets me every time, I have witnessed such darkness in person from so called “Holy men” all in the name of religion.Tax free and all….cheers, Sausage.
Haha, I missed this! I can’t help a certain fondness for this lovable kookiness.
SF: A little spirituality is a good thing. But some folks go overboard and their entire lives become their religious beliefs. It’s not healthy!Leah: They really are a happy bunch, aren’t they?