It seems a number of young women from the Satmar community in New York have recently baptized themselves to Christianity. There is video of one of them, the daughter of a Hassidic Rebbe (the Dezher Rebbe) from Flatbush, Mindel Paneth - now going by the name Hayden Paneth, who went to school in the Satmar school system. A Satmar girl from Monsey named Leah Levy also did the same. Supposedly there are others - some say a total of four known who did it publicly and others say there are tens of these young women, many of whom did it privately.
I have no idea how many actually converted to Christianity. It does not really matter. Every single one is a Jewish world destroyed and even just one is a horrible tragedy. I have not heard a reason given, though some online are pointing to, and blaming, the extreme Satmar views against Zionism. It might be that or it might not be that. They have extreme views on a lot of things, not just Zionism, so without any explanation from these young women, it is really just guessing to point to one aspect of Satmar life and blame that. It also seems to be a trend, if it can be called a trend, within Satmar. I have not seen or heard about it among other groups.
I first saw it discussed in the Haredi news website Haredim10. That made me start looking around and I saw it discussed in an online Haredi forum, and then found the following post in English (with video) about it. Then Ben Waxman posted a Maariv article about it on Twitter.
Very shocking and very sad.
Satmar educators are looking at these extreme acts and wondering if something in their education system needs to be changed. As one is quoted, it would be one thing if some girls just stopped living a Haredi life, went off the derech, stopped keeping mitzvos, even becoming fully secular, but converting to Christianity is a protest, an evil act, some sort of revenge against something...
I really hope the reports are exaggerated. Even though I am no fan of Satmar and would not have any problem with these girls, and many more, leaving Satmar if they don't like that lifestyle and instead adopting a different sect or stream within Judaism, it is very sad to see them leave like this.
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Four girls out of thousands is not really much of a phenomenon.
ReplyDeletefour is very serious. They are moving towards idolatry
DeleteFour destroyed lives are 4 too many.
DeleteSure it is especially if it is up from 0
ReplyDeleteThis just tells me that these girls have either no real Jewish origins (Jewish neshamot) and have reverted to their true roots and/or the 'extremism' found in many Satmar homes and schools can easily drive 'young & foolish' minds off the charts. Extremism in anything usually drives the pendulum to the opposite extreme, r'l.
ReplyDeleteIn many Chassidic schools, especially Satmar, there are many types of questions that are forbidden to even ask, particularly questions related to Emunah.
ReplyDeleteThere are many accounts of Chassidic kids with questions they were unable to ask at school and searching for answers elsewhere, many went "off the Derech", or a adopted a different derech.
It wouldn't surprise me at all if a small number of Chassidic kids with questions that are considered forbidden went to look for answers in forbidden but accessible locations, such as from a missionary at a subway station, and ended up with the wrong answers.
interesting suggestion
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DeleteAs a full fledged Satmar graduate, I beg to differ. Growing up our teachers were very well equipped to deal with questions ESPECIALLY Emunah. Like every other school (I've been out there too), they have some that aren't. Kids will learn very quickly which teachers/Rebbis can deal with questions. Uneducated people like to point fingers trying to figure out what went wrong, they like the idea of having everything boxed and stored away in the form of blaming an entire sect. That's naive.
DeletePeople should keep in mind that the school system should have less than a 10% influence on kids. Growing up as a bright and deep girl the questions I had were directed to my parents mostly. Parents should not stop edifying, guiding, and helping their kids just because they go to school. School should never be a substitute for a healthy open discussion between parents and kids.
That is understandable. I didnt know that limitation with Satmar. I thought so far, in Chassidut everywhere Emunah is taught, as Breslevi with us. Christians work with all tricks, they are our biggest danger. What can we do against it?
DeleteThis is a man bites dog story. It may have happened once or twice (reports of it being more frequent are factually inaccurate), but it is excruciatingly rare. And, in fact, its occurrence in Satmar is less frequent than in other Jewish (Orthodox or not) communities.
ReplyDeleteIf people know of girls or boys who need someone to speak to about these issues, please contact Jews for Judaism. We currently have two branches. One in Los Angeles and one in Toronto. Eli Cohen www.jewsforjudaism.ca
ReplyDeleteaccording to http://actualic.co.il/%D7%99%D7%93-%D7%9C%D7%90%D7%97%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%A2%D7%9C-4-%D7%94%D7%A0%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%9E%D7%A1%D7%98%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%A8-%D7%A9%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%A0%D7%A6%D7%A8%D7%95-%D7%A4%D7%A8/ Yad lAchim is now getting involved, as well as saying this isnt really a real conversion to convert out but just to make a provocative social protest... does Jews for Judaism also have a way to get involved in the situation out there?
DeleteWhen we are contacted, we do our best to assist.
DeleteMaybe they needed some answers to questions they could not even ask!
ReplyDeleteThe Satmar (and other sects) must change and modify their ways and teachings. Their system right now is producing many children that are disillusioned with their beliefs and teachings. Where is their "emmuna"? Everything's in the dress code and not what's inside the mind and soul. We're not living in the dark ages. These kids don't know anything beyond the Chassidic Ghetto!
ReplyDeleteGrowing up in the Satmar sect I can fully and absolutely disagree with your statement. I was taught all my life that while what you wear is important, what's more important is what is going on inside of you. We had great teachers who were well equipped to deal with questions (not all of course, but most) One of our subjects were Emunah. This girl did what she did for other reasons obviously. There are plenty boys and girls unfortunately, who leave the fold and don't convert. Christianity is a strict sect too and not at all welcoming. Just talk to some who converted to Judaism and have an open honest discussion. She must be hurting more than we can imagine.
DeleteDo you personally know any real Christians? Perhaps one experience with one "christian" isn't equivalent to all? As a believer in Yeshua, I can say, I have too been persecuted by "so-called" believers aka the "mocking name"---christians...
DeleteLet me tell you something that you should understand quite easily, a "label" doesn't make someone a believer...as it only separates people from another labeled bunch of believers in other ways.
Many people do not know God! And just because they identify as a specific "label"...doesn't mean they are in fact what they claim. Hitler(boo has you do with Haman), was a prime example of a false believer. Why would you butn the Torah if you proclaimed to believe in the very God who gave us all HIS WORD??? Doesn't make sense now, does it?
When you see the devil in the details, you see that evil ones plans...to trick, deceive and cause people to blame for their lack of proper Godly discernment of the Truth.
My hope, as a "Christian", is not to "convert" who is already who God made them to be...your heritage and your dna are exactly how God made you! As God says, He wants a mans heart(His inward change of man)...How can a person be anything other than what he is already? No "Christian" desires that which is not what God has already said...if it deviates from His Word, its not coming from God! Period!
And I am very welcoming...I Love God, I Love His Word...Everything of God is Glorious! And you and your family are precious in His Sight! For myself, so am I!
I have experienced beautiful encounters with Elohim Adonai! Things that only can come from Him. Dreams and visions, hearing Him Audibly, seeing miracles, prophecy happening...Your God is my God! Hallelujah Amen!
Perhaps God can work on your heart, because we are meant to come together whether you like that or not! Genesis 12:3 says Abraham's seed would bless ALL THE NATIONS of the world, not just the Jewish people.
Hearts need to change, not the dna of a created being under God!
God bless, I pray more truth and proper conversations occur for more Godly Truth in understanding of His Divine Will for us all...I am truly tired of the enemy separating what God wants to bring together in Him!
Have a blessed day!
Baruch Haba B'Shem Adonai!
In Spirit and In Truth,
Kelly✌🏼🙏🏼♥️
Where is R Zvi Gluck?
ReplyDeleteWhere is R Zvi Gluck?
ReplyDeleteI just watched a video that a Christian donor is pouring money into Satmar for the purpose of converting them hence I googled and came across this post.
ReplyDeleteinteresting. I wonder why they would target Satmar specifically
Delete