Joseph………..
Your basic premise is flawed.
I live in Fairfield County, CT. Definitely part of Metro NY, lots of commuters to Manhattan on Metro North. But my small town is definitely considered out of town. It is NOT considered hick or hillbilly. The level of education of residents is much higher than NYC–daughter did a sociology paper on this demographic last semester.
Those who choose to live here may well be pretentious, and don’t necessarily lead a simple life. I am an attorney, father, grandfather, property owner, landlord and an elected official……….
Couple that with Jewish involvement, learning, being on the board of assorted shuls, day schools, Jewish charities..that doesn’t make my life simple.
I certainly question what you mean by sophisticated? I think your urban centric attitude is myopic.
Not everyone wants to live in a ghetto, even if it is high income and self-imposed. We are not kollel people. We go to Yeshiva, seminary and then University and graduate schools. Jews need members of the tribe who can represent them in the civil legal system, tend to their medical and dental needs, etc.
One can be part of the Yeshiva affiliated world and still have a profession.
I only live an hour from midtown Manhattan, that’s out of town, but not hillbilly.