Becoming Un-Orthodox: Stories of Ex-Hasidic Jews

272 Pages·2014·0.72 MB·English

by  Lynn Davidman

be comin g u n-or tho dox

becoming
un-orthodox
stories of ex-hasidic jews
l y n n d a v i d m a n
1
1
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Davidman, Lynn, 1955–
Becoming un-orthodox : stories of ex-Hasidic Jews / Lynn Davidman.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-19-938050-3 (hardcover : alk. paper)—ISBN 978-0-19-938051-0 (ebook)—
ISBN 978-0-19-938052-7 (ebook) 1. Orthodox Judaism-Relations-Nontraditional Jews
2. Ultra Orthodox Jews-Unites States-Anecdotes. I. Title.
BM197.6.D38 2015
296.8'32-dc23 2014007443
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
This book is dedicated to my late brother, Mark Davidman,
whose energy and spirit rested on my left shoulder as I wrote
and completed this book.

You gain strength, courage and confidence every time you stop to look
fear in the face…. We must do that which we think we cannot.
—Eleanor Roosevelt

a note on terminology
In addition to the familiar division of contemporary Jewry into Ortho-
dox, Conservative, and Reform groups, there are important distinctions
within the Orthodox communities. The primary division is between the
Modern Orthodox and the Haredim, who actually consist of two dis-
tinct groups. One group is the Hasidic communities, for whom mys-
ticism is important; and the other is referred to as “Yeshivish,” due to
their emphasis on men’s study of ancient texts in institutes of higher
learning. The term “Haredim” refer to both Hasidim and the Yeshivish.
Thirty-eight of my forty interviewees were ex-Hasidim; there were two
ex-Yeshivish men in my study as well. A glossary at the back of the
book defines unfamiliar terms.