'Old Order' Amish equate, pretty much, to Orthodox Jews, it seems. The Amish do not permit themselves - or each other- to own motor driven vehicles but they will hire non-Amish or people who were reared Amish but no longer are 'observant', if they never formally joined the Amish church. (Usually between the ages of 14 to 18).)

For some reason, they also distinguish between gasoline and electric power. For instance, it is OK to use gas generators to run dairy 'milkers' but it is not OK to run electric lines to one's home. It is Ok to use oil lamps or to use propane to fuel your reading lamps.

As to families, the Amish too prefer to have their offspring and other extended family living close by. Often,in the old days, the father had enough property to deed certain portions to various offspring on which to build. In addition, it has always been the practice to have a amsller house built close to the family home for the eventual use of the patriarch and matriarch. However, the Amish tend to have large families and today it is much harder to find or afford farms so it is no longer possible in many cases to practice "the old ways". So, many more young Amish men become mechanics (small engine) or factory workers these days, rather than the traditional farmer or carpenter.

Last winter in my travels I visited several Amish communities and I was surprised to learn that the old ways are still alive to a certain vital degree.

No wonder I thought for the first few years of my life that I and my family were Jews!