The Piekarskis and their five children, 5-13, wrap themselves in religious rituals, prayers and intellectual discussion. The kids are avid readers. The parents are loving and firm. They choose not to be a mainstream American family. The Rabbi, as I call him, adheres to the strictest Jewish doctrine. First instance, in accordance to his interpretation of biblical scripture, family members are not allowed to touch the opposite sex, except among siblings, parents, grandparents and spouses. The Rabbi’s son may not hug or even shake the hand of his aunt.
A Chat with the Hamden Shliach
Hamden, CT — Rabbi Menachem Piekarski is a serious man and a delightfully passionate storyteller, and believer. He is the rabbi for the Chabad of Hamden, a national movement that’s part synagogue, part academia. The Hassidic Jewish man, who grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., runs services and classes out of his 17 Park St. home. Every moment of his life is Judaism.
The Piekarskis and their five children, 5-13, wrap themselves in religious rituals, prayers and intellectual discussion. The kids are avid readers. The parents are loving and firm. They choose not to be a mainstream American family. The Rabbi, as I call him, adheres to the strictest Jewish doctrine. First instance, in accordance to his interpretation of biblical scripture, family members are not allowed to touch the opposite sex, except among siblings, parents, grandparents and spouses. The Rabbi’s son may not hug or even shake the hand of his aunt.
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