Wednesday, October 08, 2003
I just read a story on hasidic rebel about a young man (20 years old) whom he calls Yoinasen and it reminded me of a few stories about my Joni. I will relate one now.
I would corroborate with the Hasidic Rebel in saying that there are some young men in the yeshivot and kollel that are not that interested in studying torah. As I mentioned in my story, Joni said that some of the yeshiva bachurs sit and play cards for a great part of the day. As Aidel Maidel points out, some people are not that interested in educating themselves. Jonathan was very disappointed in finding that some of the young men in the yeshivot were not that interested in studying torah. They were just passing time because they had no skills to get a job.
At some point, Jonathan decided he would get a TV in his apartment. He liked to watch to TV. He didn't watch anything that was so wrong. Mostly he liked to watch documentaries about the Holocaust and about Hitler. He was interested in that period in History. At some point, some of his "friends" from the yeshiva decided they too would like to watch TV. They would gather at his apartment. What they liked to watch was not so innocent.
Now, the only reason Joni had an apartment, and was able to get the TV, was because Yussel would not give him a place at the yeshiva dormitory. When these yeshiva boys heard that Joni had a TV they would gather in his apartment to watch. These boys knew that Joni was a Baal Teshuva. And they used to ask him about being secular. They were fascinated. And, according to Joni, these boys asked the kind of questions one would ask to gather information about being able to "escape" the Hasidic lifestyle. Joni used to offer to help them "get out" if he any one of them would help him "get in" (e.g., make a shidduch with one of their sisters). But none would.
I think the Hasidim are afraid of the Baal Teshuvahs because they can help the "rebels" get out. They have contacts on the outside. And so, better to not let them in. Keep the BT at arms length, lest he create an "underground railroad" for the rebel Hasid.
I would corroborate with the Hasidic Rebel in saying that there are some young men in the yeshivot and kollel that are not that interested in studying torah. As I mentioned in my story, Joni said that some of the yeshiva bachurs sit and play cards for a great part of the day. As Aidel Maidel points out, some people are not that interested in educating themselves. Jonathan was very disappointed in finding that some of the young men in the yeshivot were not that interested in studying torah. They were just passing time because they had no skills to get a job.
At some point, Jonathan decided he would get a TV in his apartment. He liked to watch to TV. He didn't watch anything that was so wrong. Mostly he liked to watch documentaries about the Holocaust and about Hitler. He was interested in that period in History. At some point, some of his "friends" from the yeshiva decided they too would like to watch TV. They would gather at his apartment. What they liked to watch was not so innocent.
Now, the only reason Joni had an apartment, and was able to get the TV, was because Yussel would not give him a place at the yeshiva dormitory. When these yeshiva boys heard that Joni had a TV they would gather in his apartment to watch. These boys knew that Joni was a Baal Teshuva. And they used to ask him about being secular. They were fascinated. And, according to Joni, these boys asked the kind of questions one would ask to gather information about being able to "escape" the Hasidic lifestyle. Joni used to offer to help them "get out" if he any one of them would help him "get in" (e.g., make a shidduch with one of their sisters). But none would.
I think the Hasidim are afraid of the Baal Teshuvahs because they can help the "rebels" get out. They have contacts on the outside. And so, better to not let them in. Keep the BT at arms length, lest he create an "underground railroad" for the rebel Hasid.
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