Postville

Postville

In 1987 Aaron Rubashkin, a Russian-born Lubavitch Jewish meat provisioner from Boro Park, New York, bought and refurbished a defunct slaughter house in the town of Postville, Iowa. His idea was to establish a large meat plant in an area that produces some of the best beef and poultry in the country. The highly successful AgriProcessors Inc. now provides meat products that are Glatt Kosher (the most stringent type of Kosher) to Jewish communities around the world. The plant employs 350 workers, many of whom are ultra orthodox Jews and mostly Lubavitch, making Postville the home of the largest number of Rabbis per capita in the United States. The influx of Hasidic Jews and other ethnic groups that work in the plant, such as Mexicans and Russians in the town of Postville has brought about many changes in the small homogeneous town. A book about the town's transformation, "Postville: A Clash of Cultures in Heartland America" by Stephen G. Bloom, is despised locally by most of the residents, Jewish and gentile, but has introduced the phenomenon of "Postville" to a wider audience.

The Hasidim that came to work in the slaughterhouse brought their lives from Brooklyn and established a modern shtetl in a small corner of Iowa. They set up a synagogue, two schools including a Yeshiva, two ritual baths (one for men and one for women) as well as the first and only kosher market and restaurant in the state of Iowa. A dairy and Pizza company followed, which was aptly named after 47th Street, well known in New York City as a place where Hasidim work.

Many of the jewish residents feel isolated and far away from the larger community. But, because Hasidim generally do not shun technology, the modern conveniences of air travel, and phone, email, and internet contact keep them in touch internationally. Also fortunately, Postville provides the families with many of the joys of country life that are missing in Brooklyn or other urban environments. Affordable, spacious houses with backyards and a very beautiful countryside allow for many activities such as fishing, hiking, bikeriding, swimming and weekend trips. Unfortunately, included in that idyllic environment, are the chores of midwestern life required by local ordinances, such as mowed lawns and snowplowed sidewalks, as well many other differences with established local culture.

Andrea Robbins and Max Becher - 2005