Telling the Tale

One of the deep ironies of leaving Orthodox Judaism is that people ask you to tell the story of your exit over and over again. Some people who left even make their living telling that story. Why do people who have no connection to Orthodox Judaism find these stories so interesting, and why does telling the story feel false even when it’s completely true?

Episode written by Naomi Seidman and Produced by M. Louis Gordon. Recorded by Francois Heroux and Lucien Lozon at MCS Studios Toronto. Mixed by Cory Choy at Silver Sound NYC, with theme music by Luke Allen. Our Senior Producer is David Zvi Kalman.

About ‘Heretic in the House’: America has a fascination with Hasidic Jews; they show up frequently in memoirs, in newspapers, and even on Netflix. But these popular depictions don’t tell the whole story; they just tell the story the public wants to hear. What they hide is a complicated dance between Orthodox Judaism and those who leave the community, and a web of stereotypes that trap Hassidim, rebels, and the public alike.

In this limited four-part series, Professor Naomi Seidman takes us on a deeply moving journey with believers and heretics alike to uncover their hidden stories.

Heretic in the House is a podcast from the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. It’s written by Naomi Seidman and produced by M. Louis Gordon. David Zvi Kalman is our senior producer. It is mixed by Cory Choy at Silver Sound NYC with theme music from Luke Allen.