Who helps former ultra-Orthodox integrate into Israeli way of life?
Israelis who leave the ultra-Orthodox way of life find themselves without basic education, psychological support or career prospects.
Two brothers, aged 19 and 25, ended their lives Nov. 24 in a tiny apartment they had rented through Airbnb. The young men were part of a prominent family in Jerusalem’s ultra-Orthodox community and were in the process of leaving the religious world. Their names have yet to be released, apparently due to pressure from the family, and the double suicide has received almost no public or media scrutiny. Nevertheless, a quick Google search finds that tragedies like this are not as uncommon as one might think.
In the winter of 2014, two more young men leapt to their death after leaving the ultra-Orthodox community. They left behind a note saying they could no longer cope with life. The suicide of Esti Weinstein shocked many more in 2016. This former member of the Ger Hasidic community was not allowed to see her children once she abandoned religious observance. She left behind a book, describing the terrible difficulties she faced and the steep price she paid for her emancipation.
