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Unorthodox

the Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots
Jan 01, 2013Ubalstecha rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
The Hasidic community of New York is, by now, fairly commonplace. We see them as background characters in movies, sitcoms, even rock videos, but how much do we really know about this closed community. Enter Deborah Feldman, who grew up within the Hasidic community. From birth she seemed marked for difference. Her father was mentally ill, and her mother left the community because she was a lesbian. Deborah, who wants to read books and speak English, seems constrained by the life of a Hasidic girl and longs to be free. She thinks marriage will be her ticket to freedom, but she quickly realizes that it is just another cage. This memoir is a quick read, but it gives you a fascinating and insightful view of a woman's place in an ultra-orthodox religious community. The view here is no different than that of orthodox Christians, Muslims, Hindus, etc. Any group that uses religion to repress women has a culture very similar to this one. The names and actual practices may be different, but the core belief that women are inferior and need to be controlled lest they lead the men astray carries through. You should read this. Absolutely fascinating.