I really love this and you articulated a phenomenon I've always found very frustrating. Also very relatable as a gay man who became religious in college but doesn't really feel like I've struggled as a gay person in the frum world the way that other people do. Can't wait to read more
Thank you so much! It’s also something I’ve noticed for a while, I think starting with seeing the ‘debunking’ of OTD stories by baalei teshuva. It’s always struck me as somewhat inappropriate but it took some time to articulate why
I'm a BT who went OTD and I love the message that you have and you want to share. One of the challenging things for me is listening to some of these frum influencers and many have told me how wrong I am and that things I and others personally experienced aren't true or are one off bad experiences. I respect that religion is right for some people. When I first came out publicly I was obnoxious at times but it was a response to the way I was manipulated into becoming BT in the first place.
I feel that some of the BT TikTok videos come across as hostage videos that these people are trying to convince themselves of their decision.
The OTD journey is usually a long and complex one and the Rabbinical leadership has a motivation to make it seem that there must be something wrong with us.
Every BT has their own story of their route to becoming observant It is their very personal Kabalas ol Malchus Shamayim and Kabalas ol’ Mitzvos but it is by no means a personal defect or RL a mental illness
Far too many BTs are asked why would they become observant as opposed to what inspired them to become observant.
I think a great book could be written by someone who is definitely not an academic but who would not be published by AdtScroll that could explore the lives of many BTS as to what inspired them and when and where they found their place in the Torah observant community ranging from MO to the Charedi world I think such a book is important because it would demonstrate what Rav Soloveitchik ZL called the -
14th ikar of Emunah that Torah observance can flourish today
We all have our paths to observance and they all are worthy of inspiration and respect by the FFB world . From my own vantage point I was inspired by the mitzvah by mitzvah approach of NCSY and advisors who learned in RiETS but who also were college students at YU and by the Roshei Yeshiva of RIETS .I respect some but not all aspects of the Charedi community and I am eternally grateful to NCSY for the foundations in an enthusiasm for Torah learning and observance and the tools in learning that I acquired at YU in the pre ArtScroll and pre Charedi Kiruv yeshiva era
I really love this and you articulated a phenomenon I've always found very frustrating. Also very relatable as a gay man who became religious in college but doesn't really feel like I've struggled as a gay person in the frum world the way that other people do. Can't wait to read more
Thank you so much! It’s also something I’ve noticed for a while, I think starting with seeing the ‘debunking’ of OTD stories by baalei teshuva. It’s always struck me as somewhat inappropriate but it took some time to articulate why
I wrote about this phenomenon a while ago. https://jewishworker.blogspot.com/2008/03/misleading-statements-in-name-of-kiruv.html
Thanks for sharing!
I'm a BT who went OTD and I love the message that you have and you want to share. One of the challenging things for me is listening to some of these frum influencers and many have told me how wrong I am and that things I and others personally experienced aren't true or are one off bad experiences. I respect that religion is right for some people. When I first came out publicly I was obnoxious at times but it was a response to the way I was manipulated into becoming BT in the first place.
I feel that some of the BT TikTok videos come across as hostage videos that these people are trying to convince themselves of their decision.
The OTD journey is usually a long and complex one and the Rabbinical leadership has a motivation to make it seem that there must be something wrong with us.
I hear all your points, thanks for sharing. That is precisely why I’m avoiding that whole sphere of content
Disagree. As a BT, I never felt there was something wrong with me .
Each of us has unique experiences. Random encounters can drastically alter people's experiences.
Absolutely
I’m glad you’ve had that experience, unfortunately that is not true for everyone
Every BT has their own story of their route to becoming observant It is their very personal Kabalas ol Malchus Shamayim and Kabalas ol’ Mitzvos but it is by no means a personal defect or RL a mental illness
I appreciate your feedback, I’m not sure where I ever suggested BTs had personal defects or mental illness though
Far too many BTs are asked why would they become observant as opposed to what inspired them to become observant.
I think a great book could be written by someone who is definitely not an academic but who would not be published by AdtScroll that could explore the lives of many BTS as to what inspired them and when and where they found their place in the Torah observant community ranging from MO to the Charedi world I think such a book is important because it would demonstrate what Rav Soloveitchik ZL called the -
14th ikar of Emunah that Torah observance can flourish today
Ok, again not sure of the link between this and the piece I wrote
We all have our paths to observance and they all are worthy of inspiration and respect by the FFB world . From my own vantage point I was inspired by the mitzvah by mitzvah approach of NCSY and advisors who learned in RiETS but who also were college students at YU and by the Roshei Yeshiva of RIETS .I respect some but not all aspects of the Charedi community and I am eternally grateful to NCSY for the foundations in an enthusiasm for Torah learning and observance and the tools in learning that I acquired at YU in the pre ArtScroll and pre Charedi Kiruv yeshiva era
Perhaps you could write your own piece on this topic? These comments are not linked to the article I wrote so I’m not sure how to respond
Thanks ! I have blogged elsewhere on this and I will eventually do because it is a topic that deserves more attention in the FFB world