Diving into the Hasidic commun

Diving into the hasidic community 

I watched the Netflix documentary One of us, which shows the lives of hasidic people who chose to leave the community. It's amazing that only 2% of Hasidics ever leave the religion.

Growing up in upstate New York I have known this community for many years. They came to our town for the summer, every summer. Last summer I was home with friends who grew up elsewhere. They were so curious as they had never seen a hasidic before. 

I thought I knew a lot about their culture but seeing this documentary made me realize that so much more happens in that community than any of us, from the outside world realizes.

I already knew that women are treated like second class citizens but didn't know that they are only taught the basics in school and only until a certain age as women are only needed for childbirth and rearing children. They are also only taught about their community and religion as this is their way of keeping these women stuck there. 

But it may surprise you that they do that to the boys as well, to keep them in the dark about the outside world and how to survive in it.

I knew that women shaved their heads when they got married as hair is your beauty and no other man should see it. But I didn't know you had to wear tights not skin color, that you aren't allowed to have any say in any matters and that you must obey your husband no matter what. 

These people that have decided to leave the religion have had it really tough as once you leave you are considered dead to everyone, even your parents and children. Women who usually have 5 or more children are left penniless without education to rely on.

And if that is not bad enough the community comes together to pay for a high priced attorney to make sure that they get the children and they are not going to grow up in the sectoral world. They even have a law that is called status quo which means the mother must not change anything, her clothes, her hair, who she interacts with. It's impossible to do that when you are trying to start a new life outside of this religion and most women lose their children. This was the saddest part for me, because you don't want to be controlled anymore, you will ultimately lose your children.

So today my friends, remember we really don't know what others are going through. There is so much pain and suffering that people go through that we never know of. Because of that we should always be kind to others, learn about their religion or cultures so this way you know what is really going on. 

"Be the change you want to see"

@TreadmillTreats