Escaping the Hasidic Community

The opening comments are mistaken. Except for Lubavitch, Hasidim don't try to recruit anybody into their ranks.

I think is very easy to judge, to think she was already an adult, but we are vulnerable at all ages, we crave for family, community, connection, a sense of belonging... I hope you heal everything and send you a hug ❤

You sourced footage from Unorthodox and One of Us, both of which are about the Satmar adjacent sects, but you tell the story of a woman who joined Chabad-Lubavich. You are mixing two very different worlds. This woman has a story to tell and I want to hear it, but it is so wrong to mix her Chabad story with the Satmar story. Satmar and Lubavich are so very different; it's really disingenuous to tell them as one, and often when it is done I wonder if it is intentional. As in, to make this woman's background look more extreme, the imagery implies she is Satmar, even while she tells us she joined Chabad.

It appears that women living within the rules of the Hasidic Jewish community and Extreme Islam follow the same restrictions.

I have a really hard time dealing with religions extremists of any kind

You need to be proud who you are. Not to forget where you come from.

What I like about these stories is that in many cases people aren't "throwing the baby out with the bathwater." In other words, they continue to live out their faith and fashion it as they see fit. That's a good sign and takes a lot of strength to do.

I was a history professor at Touro College; most girls were religious. There was one woman, in particular, who was Lubavitch. She is about 35 years old, has four children, and is married. She was going to school to be a nurse. I didn't get the impression that her husband was upset about this. She had been one of 13 kids herself. She would come into my office every so often and email me once in a while. The woman in this video had a lousy marriage. And perhaps this world isn't suitable for her.

You did the right thing!

What about my values? and the things that I want and the things I like and the things that I want to accomplish in life outside of being a mother / running a household / producing children..... I think even women in the secular world can understand this sentiment... I do.

I'm reading a lot of judgmental comments here. For a community so loving seems very angry when a member disagree with all these practices? I'm Christan not Jewish we call these rules " legalism" endless rule following doesn't bring you closer to God it's a heart change not a long list of rules to follow. I'm starting to see why she wanted to leave. Sad we believe that following man made rules endlessly is cult behavior. Your heart change comes from God in your heart pleasing him not a bunch of men ( or people) 🤷

The funny part Is that you start the video with Hatikva even though many Hasidic Jews are against the state of Israel

I don't understand you of your own free will was in college and droped out to live this life. This life was not foisted on you by your family. I don't get it!

It sounds like Olga never really “joined” this community, which is understandable as she was seeking something to connect her to family. It’s a big move to a new country.

It sounds like it was a bad marriage and the change was too great to cope with. I’m glad you found contented Jewish family life in the end. If you had a more supportive husband, friends who could have problem solved with you, and a role in the community, you could have found fulfillment. I’m sure your former husband remarried, I hope he was more flexible and responsive to his second wife.

Be happy, what a novel idea. I am glad for you and you child.

It is interesting to learn about other communities and their faiths. I observe Olga made a free choice to join a community, she was not a child bride nor was she born into this community and encumbered by the demands or expectations of family. She then decided it wasn't for her. The clip seems critical of the community, but I cannot see the grounds for criticism in this particular case. Unfortunately, many marriages fail. This just seems like another failed marriage.

I love your hair, I’d honestly love to have such curly hair

She didn't need to escape she could leave on her own will. Nobody is forcing her to stay.

The Chasidim are not highly secretive. So trite! How about a documentary about the tens of thousands who join instead of a few malcontents.