Thursday, October 27, 2005
New Chasidim expose book - Unchosen : The Hidden Lives of Hasidic Rebels
This book is actually quite an interesting read. It attempts, and does quite successfully, to enter into the extremely tight-knit Satmar community and make contact with their rebels, or rather 'bums'. The author contacts many people that live in Williamsburg and act on the outside like Chasidim, but however do not have much Yiddishkeit inside of them. Also the author makes contact with many Chasidishe bloggers that live in Williamsburg and hide their internet from everyone. As a matter of fact one of the more salient characters interviewed by the author of this book is a well known Williamsburg internet poster with the username 'Mindy' who she wisely disguises as 'Dini' by changing some minor details of her life. I am actually impressed by how the author of this book was able to get so deep into the secret lives of these people. However there is a lesson to be learned from all this, these so-called 'bums' are frustrated and are anxious to talk and they will talk to anyone that will listen to them. Now here is a message for our Rabbonim, please be the one's to listen to these people and understand them and help them out, or else this will be only the first of such willing public exposes of the inner circle and shmutz of what goes on.
Check out the book and reviews on Amazon.com
This book is actually quite an interesting read. It attempts, and does quite successfully, to enter into the extremely tight-knit Satmar community and make contact with their rebels, or rather 'bums'. The author contacts many people that live in Williamsburg and act on the outside like Chasidim, but however do not have much Yiddishkeit inside of them. Also the author makes contact with many Chasidishe bloggers that live in Williamsburg and hide their internet from everyone. As a matter of fact one of the more salient characters interviewed by the author of this book is a well known Williamsburg internet poster with the username 'Mindy' who she wisely disguises as 'Dini' by changing some minor details of her life. I am actually impressed by how the author of this book was able to get so deep into the secret lives of these people. However there is a lesson to be learned from all this, these so-called 'bums' are frustrated and are anxious to talk and they will talk to anyone that will listen to them. Now here is a message for our Rabbonim, please be the one's to listen to these people and understand them and help them out, or else this will be only the first of such willing public exposes of the inner circle and shmutz of what goes on.
Check out the book and reviews on Amazon.com
Comments:
Chaptzem:
Very well said.
Unfortunately, the more common reaction is to shun and shut out anybody who shows the slightest signs of “being different”.
I speak as one of “those bums”. I know what I feel, and I see my feelings mirrored in many people, both openly (among my close friends) but more often, gently simmering beneath the surface, hidden from most people but noticeable to those who share similar feelings (or lack of!) to Yiddishkeit in general.
If only the Rabbonim would listen to you, if only.
Very well said.
Unfortunately, the more common reaction is to shun and shut out anybody who shows the slightest signs of “being different”.
I speak as one of “those bums”. I know what I feel, and I see my feelings mirrored in many people, both openly (among my close friends) but more often, gently simmering beneath the surface, hidden from most people but noticeable to those who share similar feelings (or lack of!) to Yiddishkeit in general.
If only the Rabbonim would listen to you, if only.
I was wondering about that.
And if it was you??? If you were "Wisely disguised" as Dini, is it really right to "out" a person?
Not that I thought it was you.
And if it was you??? If you were "Wisely disguised" as Dini, is it really right to "out" a person?
Not that I thought it was you.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by 
: October 28, 2005 10:45 AM
: October 28, 2005 10:45 AM
i only feel bad that i paid for the same crap i read on the blogs for free. tell the guy yossi if he wants to sell me his shtriemel to email me.
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