This post is for informational purposes only! I do not advocate or condone the path Izzy has taken whatsoever. My posting is simply to demonstrate the various factors that contribute to Orthodox children leaving the path of their forefathers. PM
Izzy Posen grew up in London's Ultra-Orthodox Hasidic Jewish community, receiving the bare minimum of secular education in an illegal school that still practiced corporal punishment. Even with the strictures of this ultra insular community, he still managed to develop an acute curiosity about the world, something that resulted in him teaching himself english and eventually leaving the community to study physics and philosophy. Ash talks to Izzy about Zionism, how much the state should interfere with child rearing and the correct way to cut your nails in the eyes of the lord.
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A fascinating interview between two very diverse Brits! For USA viewers/listeners, Izzy comes from one of the UK’s most prominent (and, it has to be said, respected) Satmar families - actually, originally, pedigreed Yekkes. Ash Sarkar is a very controversial national media and political figure, identified with the Corbyn left, generally perceived as ‘no friend of the Jewish community’. The company - Novara media - under whom this programme was made, is also identified as a far-left voice. So this very civilized dialogue was - in my view - a very positive and extremely unusual event. It wasn’t just ‘some journalist’ interviewing ‘some ex-hasid’. The almost anthropological context here is that both of the communities being discussed - the Haredi Stamford Hill of Izzy, which is the most intensively self-isolating Haredi and Hasidic in the UK - and the far-left wings of the UK political map - exist in overlappping North London geography. So, for example, the MP representing Hackney, the constituency ( = riding) of Stamford Hill, is one of the furthest left MP’s in the House of Commons. Noteworthy.
Even with the strictures of this ultra insular community, he still managed to develop an acute curiosity about the world, something that resulted in him teaching himself english and eventually leaving the community to study physics and philosophy.
******
I would venture to guess that the abuse was a catalyst to look elsewhere for meaning to his life.
How many chareidi/hasidic actually leave the fold? More than the number of Jews (like me) who remain observant in private life but have little to no contact with Jewish communal life?
It took me a long time to realize, then finally accept, that I count for nothing without power and/or influence.
People talk about the state interfering in education but considering the piss poor job they do with everything, might it wind up worse?
CPS is better than a horrible parent! Is CPS a first choice for abused kids? Of course not!
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