Living in NY, I encountered many Orthodox Jews. It is very different than secular or Conservative Jews. Despite myself, I felt uncomfortable.Mostly I saw them on the subway and in Central Park. The emphasis on family and the lack of materialism appeals to me. The Orthodox males were the aggregors on the subway line. The Italian men would man up and walk away. Every morning I saw about four to five showdowns.
Sometimes I feel it is a blessing and sometimes I want to be comfortable with my own kind.