As you may or may not know, I work at B&H Photo and 99% of my co-workers are  Ultra Orthodox Hasidic Jews. It's been quite the education - hello, ist meshuggah?! Miene yiddish is nisht geferlech!

These guys are really great. We often have a lot of fun and laughs, even if I struggle - daily - with the culture and understanding how things work. I try to be respectful and observe as much as I can without crossing lines. It appears I'm not the only one interested in how these guys work.

I got word today that none other than Al Pacino was seen at a shul in Boro Park studying prayer techniques of the Hasidim. I'm sure he wants to get shoklen just right. Pacino is headlining the summer 2010 Shakespeare in the Park production of The Merchant of Venice. Should be fantastic. I'm not really into Shakespeare, but only out of pure ignorance. I've only seen Hamlet - and luckily at a Shakespeare in the Park - and I liked it a lot.

At least Pacino knew where to go to find the real stuff. The real Ultra-Orthodox Jewish guys, not this fake hollywood stuff.