Unorthodox

01Exploring the Satmar Hasidic Community: A Tale of Struggle and Yearning for Freedom

Imagine a city surrounded by towering walls, where the inhabitants live according to a set of rules and traditions that seem alien to the outside world. This is not a scene from a dystopian novel, but a real-life depiction of the Satmar Hasidic community in Brooklyn, New York, as portrayed in Deborah Feldman's memoir, "Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots." The Satmar Hasidic community is a world unto itself, a place where Yiddish is the primary language, and modern technology is largely shunned. The community's insularity is profound, with members rarely interacting with the outside world. Feldman recounts how she was taught to fear non-Jews and was forbidden from reading English books, which were considered impure. The community's strict religious and cultural practices permeate every aspect of daily life. For instance, Feldman describes how women are required to shave their heads after marriage and wear wigs, a practice that symbolizes their modesty and devotion to their husbands. The community also observes the Sabbath with a rigor that prohibits even the use of electricity. Women in the Satmar Hasidic community are expected to fulfill traditional roles, primarily as wives and mothers. They are discouraged from pursuing education or careers outside the home. Feldman, for example, was married off at 17 and became a mother at 19. These restrictions, coupled with the community's insularity, create a sense of confinement that is palpable in Feldman's narrative. From a young age, Feldman felt a sense of not belonging. She was different, curious, and hungry for knowledge. The expectations placed on her—to be a dutiful wife and mother, to conform to the community's strict rules—felt suffocating. She yearned for freedom, for a life beyond the confines of the community. This yearning for freedom, however, came at a cost. Feldman's struggle with her identity and her rejection of her Hasidic roots were seen as scandalous by her community. She was ostracized, labeled a rebel, a sinner. But for Feldman, this rejection was a necessary step towards the freedom she craved. Feldman's story is a powerful exploration of the tension between individual freedom and communal belonging. It sheds light on the complexities of closed communities, where tradition and conformity often clash with the human desire for personal freedom and self-expression. It's a tale of struggle, of yearning, and ultimately, of liberation.