‘You’re So Brave’

The crucial moment in so many stories about leaving the Orthodox community is the decision itself, which is frequently portrayed as a painful and heroic act, one that requires tremendous willpower. But leaving rarely works this way; instead, it is a messy and gradual process, one that can leave scars on both the leaver and their community. This episode examines the act of leaving, and whether it is always the leaver who decides that it’s time to go.

Episode written by Naomi Seidman and Produced by M. Louis Gordon. Recorded by Lucien Lozon at MCS Studios Toronto. Mixed by Cory Choy at Silver Sound NYC, with theme music by Luke Allen, and special thanks to Alex Dillon. 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.