I'm Jewish, although not orthodox. I feel like it's important to explain what this man means when talking about Chabad members being "missionaries" because Christians have a different definition. In Christianity, missionaries go out into the world to bring non Christians to Jesus or to Christianity through good works, talking, etc. Proselytizing is against our religion, which means we do NOT go out into the world seeking to bring non-Jews to Judaism. Instead, Chabad goes out into the world to bring "lost Jews", non-practicing Jews who are Jewish by birth, or questioning Jews back to Judaism. I realize that this isn't the gist of his talk, but I always feel like this needs clarification since most people aren't well-versed in Judaism or Jewish practice.
That may be an important distinction but the way you phrased it makes it feel innocent. They do try to get people (men) to do random Jewish acts, and in mostly South Asian countries where many Israelis travel they provide free places to stay and food. they still hold harmful and oppressive beliefs as Elad points out.
@@MiraBoo it's not a crime but if we're having negative or thoughts that we feel are perhaps wrong..we can remind ourselves to snap out of this..I learnt that late and have lived a very free life.. it's up to the individual to decide right and wrong but you can train your brain if you want to
Shelise you are a master interviewer. It is so heartwarming to see how you treat every guest with such grace. It hit me the strongest after listening to this captivating story and reaching almost the one hour mark where you say you didn’t want to interrupt him with your question because he was on a roll. This is exactly why i love listening to your podcast! Not only you bring on fascinating people and win their trust with your kind way of interviewing with reverence for them & all they share, but also i get so aggravated on other podcast where the interviewer interrupts the flow with questions for the sake of following a script, and missed out on the main juice- the heart of the story more often than not. Thanks a million for all the gems you bring to us. This episode especially helped me a lot! Thank you to Elad for sharing so beautifully and openheartedly!
Shelise you know I've never been Mormon and I've never been Jewish but watching your videos and watching Amanda's videos is like therapy to me and I thank you all so much for doing what you do
@@CultstoConsciousness I think we should be mindful that this was Elad's perspective. I would argue, there is more to this story, or completely different from another's point of view.
@@chabadacademy2078 are you Jewish? If yes, in Jewish law does a woman need permission to divorce her husband? If yes, isn't that a fundamental inequality in the system?
I think we should be mindful that this was Elad's perspective. I would argue, there is more to this story, or completely different from another's point of view.
Elad, if your reading this, I was born into Chabad and left 5 yrs ago and I suffer from deep confusion and turmoil. I just started reading some of your articles and now found this. It’s one of the most validating and calming things. Can’t thank you enough.
This man is a good example of what it means to have integrity. Doing what is right no matter who is watching.. Especially when there is no direct benefit to you..
“They put your soul in a box.” Wow. That is a perfect way to describe what happens with authoritarian religions. It’s all about the rules and keeping up an appearance, and it cuts you off from that connection you talk about because you can’t even connect to yourself for fear of encountering those doubts you’re supposed to be suppressing. Thanks so much for sharing your story.
For better or worse, these happenings within the dogmatic communities are coming to light for us to heal. For too long these types of behavior are hidden within religious bigotry. Men are NOT superior to women, the Creator of all things is a balance of both the divine masculine and divine feminine, go within your heart, GOD is only love, any teachings to the contrary are a distortion of the truth. God bless all these people who are willing to tell their stories. Shine the light☀️.
I had a similar experience in this same group, I think we even went to the same yeshiva in Jerusalem. Really healing to hear somebody else talk about it and validate many of the thoughts I've had but haven't been able to have understood or reflected by others.
Really? I grew up in Chabad, I disrespect their beliefs and practices but never felt like it’s a u cult, cult is not the right definition, you have full autonomy there, it’s not like other Orthodox groups
I was also diagnosed bipolar during the years that I was involved in a FBC that was really into the whole IBLP movement 💔 trying to navigate that while also dealing with my own was excruciating! It took me 18 years to get out. i’m so sorry for what you went through but so glad that you were able to get out!
I love this video!!! I was raised without any formal religion. It has been a mystery to me my whole life how and why people believed in organized religions of all kinds. The way your guest described his faith journey today helped me gain an understanding and appreciation for the struggle so many face. Thank you for sharing your light with the world. ❤❤❤
As a muslim, i have nothing but admiration for a hasidic man's ability to stand against islamophobia, and in a community that didnt tolerate speaking up against anything, specially with the tendency of so many - both muslims and jews - to think we HAVE TO be enemies. Bravo!
If you think being Jewish is part of a religion, that’s the main first problem, so you never understand what it is being part of a nation with a history, culture and practice
@@Yosaif-Israel I know being Jewish is being in a culture. I was speaking to your comments on spirituality. I just think your journey and your speaking about it is bringing knowledge forward. Thank you for sharing your story.
I find it so fascinating the link between bipolar and religiosity. I don’t know quite how to put my finger on it but even close my atheist friends/family with severe bipolar, during manic flights they seem to see spirituality in all things.
Those with schizophrenia as well - the movie Altered States touches upon this, I think the quote is "not all religious people are schizophrenic, but 50% of those with schizophrenia experience religiosity" or something along those lines. Not sure if it was ever a real statistic or not, but I believe the number is probably higher, tbh.
@@MissMentats oh believe me I learnt it early with my best friend. She joined a cult and it somehow triggered her bipolar which must of been dormant. Since then she’s been struggling in her manic episodes 🥲
@suigeneris2663 I've been manic and I can tell you firsthand that it feels like a spiritual experience. It's very easy to misinterpret the feelings because it feels so GOOD to be manic. Like, beyond beautiful. It's hard not to feel like you're being touched by God. I'm sure many religious people experience mania, but there's no denying that there's also the potential for mania to lead to religiosity.
I've been a fan of Elad's writing for years, yet I didn't know a lot of the background story. I give him a lot of credit - he is courageous in many ways, and I'm comforted hearing that he's found a resolution for himself that blends community, spirituality, self and creativity. Keep going, Elad.
This is such a powerful episode. Thank you Elad, for sharing. Thank you, Shelise, for your questions. All of these themes have been a part of my evangelical fundamentalism deconstruction - different religion, similar experiences!
Thank you for sharing your story! I throughly enjoy when I hear, that's a great question, after Shelise asks a question! Girl, you are so aware, insightful, and thoughtful!! Thank you for being you!!!!
@@CultstoConsciousness thank you for creating this platform! It is so helpful to my soul to be able to shake my head yesss when I'm listening to someone speak and I so gratefully find myself doing it frequently while listening! You're priceless in my book!
How heart breaking; that the first story published regarding a persons story of abuse opened the flood gates to so many more. So much so that an entire new publication was created for them. So indescribably sad. There's so much abuse in this world and it is truly soul crushing. The fact that some people were dissenters to these experiences being brought to light makes it very clear who the ones are that are perpetuating the abuse...
As an outsider, it’s fascinating how different ex-hasidic stories sound coming from men and women. Elad is obviously a great guy with a strong moral compass, but the community he describes is hard to recognize as the same Handmaid’s Tale hellscape from Beatrice’s story. The mere fact that it ever seemed possible to conceptualize its values as compatible with, say, gay marriage speaks to a very different experience. I’ve heard a few ex-hasidic stories from women, and they always describe a stifling world where everything is about sex, purity and shame, with very little room for any kind of actual religious meaning, or, heck, anything ar all that would make anyone want to join. Hearing it from a man, it makes a lot more sense how these movements do attract new members.
You're definitely right in terms of the differences between men and women, but a big part of this also has to do with the differences in Hasidic groups. Beatrice's group is very different than the one I left, and this is a big reason it's important not to generalize about all such groups.
There is a big difference between someone who grew up in the community and someone who joined as an adult. That may explain the huge difference between Elad and Beatrice. In addition to Chabad being much more open than other Hassidic sects
That's my biggest qualm with the ultra ultra Orthodox, they don't want women to be involved in the religious talks, debates, and studies. Women are just as intellectual as men. I love Kabbalah and the Zohar and studying all cultures and philosophies.
Congrats to Elad on getting out. A question that I was curious about but didn't happen to come up in the interview: How did Elad's parents feel when he joined the strict Hassidic community and what is his relationship with them like now?
At first I skipped this video thinking I couldn't relate to his story, but this is now probably my favorite on the channel! It's so true when you said you never know which story will click. It's how he described looking for a community and interesting conversations and what a lonely journey that can be, then high control groups (or in my case, a high control person) takes advantage of that vulnerability. I wonder what can be done to protect/heal these vulnerable as I still can't think how I would have protected my younger self. I think you doing these interviews will lead to greater systemic changes. Knowledge is power!
Thank you so much for sharing your story and your thoughts, I loved reliving with you part of your ongoing spiritual journey. Wish you the best, and thanks again CtC Team for such high quality videos and amazing guests.❤
I am a new subscriber and want to tell you again how much I am enjoying your channel. Your interview style is thoughtful, intelligent, and respectful (you let your guests talk). Every interview, albeit very different, leaves me with knowledge I didn’t have. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing! I think when Shelise asked about him being able to have a career, his answer was thoughtful. I have also seen I think, it is because this man wasn’t a rabbi, so he was welcomed and used to actually work to sustain those who are sitting around studying all the time. This is structured very similar to Christianity: “go to work and bring us your money (tithes supported by specific texts used out of context) so we can live in houses nicer than yours, vehicles your guilted into giving us, and so we can pretend we are smarter and more holy than you.” The way of the Nicolaitans. Even if it’s somewhat unconscious, because it’s ingrained in the culture of the religion. As someone raised up in a denomination of Christianity, I left the organized structure of the religious aspects as an adult, because I started questioning the power structure, among other issues with either preaching one thing and watching leadership do the opposite, or just using the scriptures completely misinterpreted to strong arm people and the way they thought, or not using scripture at all and everything was an anecdotal lecture (I used to think what a waste of time on my husband’s day off). In that journey away, we were welcomed into studying with the very sect this man belonged to, even though we weren’t Jewish. We were told that the rebbe had told his followers before he died that they were to go out to the goy as well and gather them together. Mind you, they think we are dogs at least. I’m still not exactly clear why. It was a very obscure explanation when given. My husband was very content in this because he enjoyed learning the mystical and esoteric aspects, but it turned me away, because it felt a lot like Catholicism in a lot of ways and I began to study on my own to understand the beliefs behind the veneer and it quickly brought In characters or entities other than “Hashem” if you will. And definitely no Machiach yet. What ended up happening in our area (still happening) was an entire group of loyal “Christians,” that were being asked to donate money for every little thing this group wanted to do in their mostly exclusive community. It actually ended up being that this “goy,” group bought and donating land, houses, vehicles and equipment for their religious group, all for very limited access to their special religious teachings that seemed very diluted and watered down (still a lot of anecdotal information). This group has a lot of very likable people, and I even care very much for many of them today. Would certainly sit and have a tea with them, and desire that they and their families do well, but I struggled with constantly being emailed and asked for money. At the time I was a stay at home mother, homeschooling 4 children and going to college to get a degree in science and veterinary science. Our family was living on one income, and my husband is a blue collar worker. It was very hard to see him stress about finances and being somewhat guilted about not giving, when sometimes our ends weren’t meeting that well ourselves. It is, in my opinion tied very closely to political zionism and so many Christians can get on board with it. My husband still doesn’t see an issue with it, and I am not interested, so this issue poses a very serious contention within our marriage. I have to tread very lightly because he will call me an anti semi, but I’m just trying to hold to the fact that I love all people and want to see them free from religiosity that seems to snare people with doctrines and traditions of man. Usually when it all boils down many are serving beyond their capacity to support the few who live in excess or at least fairly free, just like we have in govt today.
That was dismaying to read and borders on predatory behavior of someone not intelligent enough to understand they are being used. Does your husband not believe his family comes first?
@@missylearned9821 Hello, Thank you for your response. I’m a little unclear what some of your points were intended to mean. For example, what part was dismaying in specific? What individual are you claiming is not intelligent, and which individual do you feel is the being predatory? And just like most people, they often think they are putting others first, but only within the context of what they feel is most important to them, and not considering that others may have a different set of values of importance, so I think in my 25 years of marriage, I would say I’ve not always felt like I was more important for sure. But I really don’t see that in many marriages, so it’s probably not all that uncommon. In actuality, is probably the most common reason women file for divorce more than men. I’m open to hear your opinions, even if they are directed at me or different, because this is how we learn to appreciate others.😊
I cherish every episode. Thank you Shelice, and kudos to each and every guest for bravely sharing their experiences. My eyes open more and more each time!
Thank you for being on the true "tikun olam" side of Judaism. I hope you feel validated and affirmed. Your values are beautiful. I have never looked back since leaving Orthodox Judaism about 30 years ago; years before it had been as common for folx to leave. I'm proud of you for being open about your mental health; something that is rarely, if ever, discussed in these communities. Thank you so much for acting out on behalf of women trying to get their "get" (legal Jewish divorce).
Tikkun Olam side of Judaism? I am almost 70 years old. No one previously used the phrase tikkun olam as it is used today. The Reform Movement was big on "social action". Somehow "social action" became "tikkun Olam". The sad thing is that many Jews advocate for popular liberal causes, calling it "tikkun olam" without even investigating the Torah's position. Tikkun Olam is thereby giving Jewish approval to positions not really grounded in Judaism. Tikkun Olam has become the new idol. There are so many non-Orthodox converts and young people who praise Tikkun Olam as the most important part of Judaism. My mother and grandmother did not know the phrase "Tikkun Olam" unless possibly a reference to the Aleinu prayer.
I'm so excited to see elad here! hevria, him, and matthue roth all had a shockingly large impact on me, considering I've never believed in a g-d. I was never as on the path as elad but it's really very inspiring, and gives me hope for my people specifically, that we can recognize when harm is done and do everything in our power to fix it.
I was affiliated with this group (Chabad) very briefly in grad school after they love bombed me. It was one of the most horrible experiences of my life. The paranoia, brainwashing, and systematic shunning in this group is heartbreaking. After I left, the rabbi and his family harassed me and my family until my university issued a restraining order. They try to establish a presence on many college campuses to pull in vulnerable Jewish students. Thanks so much for bringing the dangers of this group to light!
This group is very identical to the Jehovah's Witnesses. The only difference is that the witnesses are Christian. The love bombing, high mind control, brainwashing, scamming, shunning and following a person to school or work, hacking a person's phone, and slandering that person when the person leaves are all the same and truly demonic.
This is a complete eye-opener for me. I'd always thought that Chabad was orthodox, but not as 'strict' as Satmar. I'm sorry that you and your family had such an abusive experience and glad that you were able to get away!
@@Nonameforyoudangit In my opinion, one of the most dangerous aspects of Chabad is that they do such a good job of marketing themselves and making the sect appear way more mainstream than it really is, not revealing their fringe beliefs until a new member is too far in. I'm glad this interview and my comment helped to change your perspective.
When you said that some people watch because it reminds them of thier family even though they weren't religious. I felt relieved. I agree. I hate that people have to go through pain. I always enjoy your commentary and the guest.
This was a great interview! I am mainstream Jewish and it is so fascinating to see all the commonalities among high control groups, regardless of their religious affiliation.
Sooo glad you're able to post more Judaism content! I was raised Reform but am more Conservative now. I love my religion and my culture, which is so difficult to express nowadays with the pandemic of antisemitism.
you mean antizionism. if you are experiencing anti-Semitism too I'm sorry to hear that, but being against genocide from the Israeli government and people towards Palestinians is Not anti-Semitism.
@kellynaz9256 what genocide? Israel is fighting Hamas, who embed themselves into civilian populations. I would advise you to do more research. Look up "son of Hamas" to start.
@@kellynaz9256 this is an example of antisemitism. I’m not a Zionist and I’ve seen an explosion of antisemitism. Stop correcting Jews when we tell you what’s happening to us.
@@kellynaz9256True! But anti-semitism is also a big problem today. Especially with the uptick of conspiracy theories since the start of the pandemic which almost all are rooted in anti-semitism. L Zionism and anti-semitism are huge problems that exist simultaniously today
Chabad does a lot of outreach to attract teenagers/young adults. In some groups, the "public" it is even glamorous, women very well dressed, very high heels, wonderful wigs, they don't seem to see this as flaunting or against modesty, as other Orthodox groups behave. So, it attracts some very wealthy or influencial people, which is great for them because there is a lot of funding. Also, by being seemingly "open and welcoming" to non-religious Jews, you may feel you are welcomed, you are "cared for" (someone finds you a valuable asset), you belong somewhere, you have a place to go to every Friday night and Saturday morning... it "freely" offers belonging, but of course, if you like it a lot you start to get more enmeshed in this society. Sometjing similar happened to me and it was kind of "soothing" to me to have clear rules. Also as a single woman I felt "protected" (you don't physically greet men, you can't be alone with them, etc). It felt safe. I found a very nice group of people and felt I belonged and I took on practices just to belong, not that I really cared for them. I had a Ph.D. and i put my questioning 'on hold', like he did, just to not break the bubble. The moment you come back to "yourself" the bubble bursts and you feel you lived in a dream and come back to "normal" life...
Knowing that absolute spirit is in you and in all living things is what humbles you. Knowing that none should be worshipped or seen greater than the other. Every thing outside you is a Illusion. You are the lighthouse looking for the light outside.
Really interested to listen to this. I was at a park with my husband and kids a few months ago, and a hasidic family showed up. They gave us lots of sideways looks, which is fine, I remained polite. I knew my tattoos, hair, and ripped of jeans was drawing their attention to me lol. Then my 1.5yr old began singing abcs, counting to 20, saying and signing her colors. The husband was side eye watching and listening. Eventually he turned to me and asked how old she is. I smiled and said she was one. He nodded and didn't speak to me again. I think we were all maybe oddly curious about the others.
What a cute story🙂 A lot of the times, people in religions are taught that "outsiders" either deserve a watchful eye or pity. The fact that you have educated your young daughter so well is amazing and maybe unexpected by this person who may have been indoctrinated to expect less from people outside his own community. Even if that is not the case and I'm reading too much into it, it's still lovely to hear of people from different backgrounds connecting in some way, and a teachable moment that when it comes to the fundamentals of what is important to people of good character, we're not all as divided as some would like us to believe. Just because a person is different than you doesn't mean their bad or less than😊
@@jaccaj1626Agreed… it was a ‘human’ moment where another dad saw a sharp kid and maybe was surprised that with a mom who looks a certain way would have a smart child…. I think human beings in general are naturally curious about ‘the other’ ❤
So glad Elad looks into social media influence and writes about how people can be manipulated. Very needed and hard to ... probably will take many lifetimes to get that message understood. Fricken' bots.
I came from a Reform Jewish background. I went through a similar thing in college, except for me, it lead me into Christianity. I had a conversion experience in the middle of a mental health crisis. In high school, my mom took me to very liberal synagogue. Too liberal. I felt that the relgion I'd been given was too open ended, it all felt so empty.
Covid and the media around Gett issues also is what helped me realize the Orthodox Jewish world is a cult. I am blown away by Elad's abilities to speak so eloquently on this so soon after. I am still deconstructing and healing from being born and raised in this community.
I’m going through deconstruction from a lot Christian beliefs, still don’t know where I’m going to end up but a lot of what he’s saying I can relate to and has been very helpful thank you
Elad, my partner and I met you a few years ago, although I imagine you don't remember us. There was a Torah Trumps Hate event that we attended. Thank you for sharing your journey in this forum and also for being someone of such high integrity and courage, living your truth and being concerned about oppression, homophobia, misogyny, and human rights abuses.. Kol HaKavod!.May you continue to go "from strength to strength."
Every community has a percentage of Narcissists, psychopaths and sociopaths. The challenge is how to reform the cultural communities in a way that doesn't allow for cover ups and corruption. It doesn't help that most high demanding religious groups foster naive thinking making most people more vulnerable to the criminals.
It is almost as if cults regularly, systematically cover up SA....hmmmm. Also no one outside these cults can see beyond the appearance of good religious people, and giving them waaaay too much leniency, fearing they will come across as prejudice.
Great topic. I love learning about all religions, even though I don’t practice any religion right now, nor was I raised that way. I find it fascinating, that us as humans find a way, to follow someone else’s beliefs.
I am amazed how Elad became surprised about Chabad and family purity, science, gay rights, and prejudice. All of that is easily read about or observed. I know Chabad from visits to Chabad Houses and reading. I attended a Chabad wedding in Crown Heights and made a couple visits to Kfar Chabad. Chabad has a big presence on Internet and it is so easy to get information. I think Elad joined Chabad when he was young, lacking in knowledge and naive.
The dangerous thing about cults is the control, and when you are trapped psychologically, emotionally and spiritually... then, then... and additional expectations, be it direct or indirect.
I’ve only sorta recently learned how much being “culturally Jewish” isn’t as broadly known as I always thought. I think it’s largely due to a lot of the things that, while no longer “popular”, were definitely still a part of the pop culture zeitgeist in my younger (GenX) days having fallen out of fashion - think Joan Rivers, Woody Allen, the Borscht Belt comedy circuit/Vaudeville etc. The Mrs. Maisel vibe. There was def back in my childhood vestiges of that still floating about. I think maybe Seinfeld was (as far as I can recall in this moment) really the last BIG example of cultural-but-not-religious Jewishness & that was 30 yrs ago so I suppose it’s no surprise it’s not as pervasive. Most Jews I know personally (myself included) are at bare minimum agnostic if not fully atheist…which a lot of people don’t understand how you can identify as both Jewish **and** atheist but here we are lol
@@marchi.fleming well I think for us; we are so used to know Judaism as an ethnic religion. So we know many who are borderline agnostic/atheist but will always be Jewish. It took me a while to realise so many don’t actually know this
I think those of us who grew up in America see the secular Jews you speak of- I just assumed they were spiritual/religious but not extremely observant.
There used to be American Jews who were not religiously observant but involved in secular Yiddish or Hebrew language/literature or Jewish literature/history or delicatessen or bagels & lox (when it was exclusively Jewish), Jewish humor or Jewish charities or Jewish clubs/organizations or other expressions of Jewish culture. Today I hear so many young non-observant Jews say they are culturally Jewish when in fact there is nothing Jewish in their lives at all.
Excellent interview! I highly recommend checking out Mr Nehorai's substack writings (linked in the description). I would, however, strongly suggest to him that he run his work by a good proofreader before publishing it on the web. There are occasional sentences that don't make any sense - he's left out a crucial phrase or left out a "not". His excellent arguments deserve a more meticulous presentation.
I have an issue with Elads use of the word missionary in relation to Chabad. The term infers converting religion which is anathema to Judaism. True they believe all Jews should be Observant of the Torah.
I so identify with what you experienced. I hate labels. And the word denominations they sum up under a few categories Catholic, Jewish, Methodist, Christian, Morman. they all have sub categories with labels. I’m just out here trying to learn and follow Jesus. So many labels and I hate it in Christian religions there are so many high demand sectors. You spoke about divorce in Jewish “religion”. So many Christian sects are the same. The man always retains his dignity and standing in the church while the women are shunned, they ruined a whole family… I only go under Jesus follower❤. Thank you for sharing your story
Sounds like he had an OBE, out of body experience, as apposed to an NDE? Darius Wright describes the same thing, falling back into your body. He has many people on his channel who have had successful controlled OBE’s. Very interesting because 100% of them experience something greater, an understanding that there is more than what we perceive here. It seems there was also an attempt (early on) to minimize these NDE experiences because most people had an awakening at that point. Now that we have more access to these stories of NDEs/OBEs, we can see this is monumental, further understanding beyond what we have been programmed to believe.
I concur and would add that the time after such an experience and awakening can make one quite ripe for being scooped up into a high control group. Letting go of all the previous programming leaves a void which takes time, development and discernment to reorganize our sense of self. 💜
Having been brought up thinking everything thought, said & done was a sin I completely left religion behind. I'm now spiritual not religious. It took me many years to get past the fear of eternal damnation
I’m sorry this happened!! I did just want to mention that there are a lot of different flavors and shades of conservatives. I can definitely see why this guy sees as he does based on the experience he had. A lot of other conservatives are way more chill, like science (fangirl over it in my case! 😂), and are fine with equality of the sexes, as an example.
Elad Thank you for sharing your journey and being so transparent with your past. It is nice to see a man come forward and share his experience when it is often that these high control high demand organizations hold women and children in captivity. It is nice to have a man recognize that and speak up on their behalf. I grew up in a fundamental Christian organization with a hidden Jewish lineage. My grandfather knew 7 languages including Hebrew and Greek. I love languages and linguistics and studied them in college. I believe all of these rules that you experienced is what the writer Paul in the New Testament is trying to help people break free from in much of what he is addressing as law, are these rules. And these laws of your moment to moment experience and keeping Jews and gentiles separate is what he is addressing in his letters. I do not believe it is the original commandments of God but these fences and boxes and traditions of man which put woman under bondage. Unfortunately the translators are not familiar with the chabad and the Hasidic way of life and not understanding this, do Injustice in their translations to what Paul is saying. I also believe that Paul was trying to give women more Liberty but the misogynistic translators, translated not according to the Greek that is there, but with a male chauvinistic gatekeeper mindset. Where in the original Greek a woman is allowed to not keep silent, will be translated as must keep silent. Then these false Prophets and their heresies push the subjugation of women and children under these tremendously mistranslated portions. Ugg as a linguist and someone who grew up in the shame of having to be covered, these mistranslations drive me crazy. What freedom we could bring to people if these translations were handled properly. I have created study notes on a book in the New Testament Galatians which should be an analysis of how to stay out of cults. However it's so badly translated it does not bring forth the freedom and the respect to God's laws that it truly should. Praying for all of our freedom to manifest in ever in greasing glory to glory as we behold the true Father's face. As Jesus said the truth should set us free not hold us in captivity.
Just to clarify, Hasidic "missionaries" don't proselytize to non-jews. Also, I too had almost identical near death experience. It's amazing to hear someone else tell of their experience with almost identical words that I experienced.
Once again this video makes me think about how much I want to talk about my experiences in the queer and leftist communities. I am still queer and I am still a leftist, but I have been greatly harmed groups in this space.
They can be just as harmful because the tactics of thought-control and extremism don't discriminate between right or left, biblical, corporate or new age, group or domestic. You should share your story. There is an East Asian-American man whose name I can't recall right now who expossed Antifa and still gets death threats daily from them.
@@ericah6546 Yeah, unfortunately controlling group dynamics pop up everywhere and it's made me feel unsafe in the world for a long time. I'd be interested in hearing that guy's story if you can remember his name. I think that toxic behaviour can especially breed in environments where people are convinced they have the moral high ground. I realized that I really have to work on myself in order to stay grounded and recognize those kinds of dynamics earlier.
Shalise, you look just beautiful! Thank you for providing this platform! Jonathan, you're also a beautiful rockstar! ❤ Just know that if I ever run into you guys in person, I'll be fan-girling!😂
That's so interesting about the Connecticut/Chicago contrast! I grew up in CT and moved to Chicago and had the exact opposite experience: CT had a prominent Jewish community near me, and Chicago was more diverse and secular. Perhaps it speaks to the insular nature of Jewish communities. People tend to cluster for safety due to our history of persecution, including the more liberal Reformed congregations.
I'm Jewish, although not orthodox. I feel like it's important to explain what this man means when talking about Chabad members being "missionaries" because Christians have a different definition. In Christianity, missionaries go out into the world to bring non Christians to Jesus or to Christianity through good works, talking, etc. Proselytizing is against our religion, which means we do NOT go out into the world seeking to bring non-Jews to Judaism. Instead, Chabad goes out into the world to bring "lost Jews", non-practicing Jews who are Jewish by birth, or questioning Jews back to Judaism. I realize that this isn't the gist of his talk, but I always feel like this needs clarification since most people aren't well-versed in Judaism or Jewish practice.
This seems like an important distinction. Thank you for sharing!
Yes this is important, thank you for clarifying! I'll try to remember to clarify this in future interviews.
TTHANKS for clarifying the difference. I wasnt sure of it myself
That may be an important distinction but the way you phrased it makes it feel innocent. They do try to get people (men) to do random Jewish acts, and in mostly South Asian countries where many Israelis travel they provide free places to stay and food. they still hold harmful and oppressive beliefs as Elad points out.
@@shanibob5466 Exactly
Thought crimes are the first step into cults. Never believe anyone who is trying to convince you that thinking a thought is an offense.
Robert Anton Wilson
If mere thinking were criminal, we’d all be damned for intrusive thoughts which are entirely involuntary. Thoughts alone can never be a crime.
Or feeling a feeling
@@MiraBoo
it's not a crime but if we're having negative or thoughts that we feel are perhaps wrong..we can remind ourselves to snap out of this..I learnt that late and have lived a very free life.. it's up to the individual to decide right and wrong but you can train your brain if you want to
do you mean like trans women are women
I love this show. Exposing the hyprocrisy of all these ultra crazy religions is so needed
Shelise you are a master interviewer. It is so heartwarming to see how you treat every guest with such grace. It hit me the strongest after listening to this captivating story and reaching almost the one hour mark where you say you didn’t want to interrupt him with your question because he was on a roll.
This is exactly why i love listening to your podcast! Not only you bring on fascinating people and win their trust with your kind way of interviewing with reverence for them & all they share, but also i get so aggravated on other podcast where the interviewer interrupts the flow with questions for the sake of following a script, and missed out on the main juice- the heart of the story more often than not.
Thanks a million for all the gems you bring to us. This episode especially helped me a lot! Thank you to Elad for sharing so beautifully and openheartedly!
Shelise you know I've never been Mormon and I've never been Jewish but watching your videos and watching Amanda's videos is like therapy to me and I thank you all so much for doing what you do
I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks for sharing
Same girl! I love this content even though I have never been religious. It's very eye opening.
Same!
@@CultstoConsciousness I think we should be mindful that this was Elad's perspective. I would argue, there is more to this story, or completely different from another's point of view.
@@chabadacademy2078 are you Jewish? If yes, in Jewish law does a woman need permission to divorce her husband? If yes, isn't that a fundamental inequality in the system?
Liked. Shared. Commented. May the algorithm break the silence.
Yes!!! Great comment!!!
❤
I think we should be mindful that this was Elad's perspective. I would argue, there is more to this story, or completely different from another's point of view.
Elad, if your reading this, I was born into Chabad and left 5 yrs ago and I suffer from deep confusion and turmoil. I just started reading some of your articles and now found this. It’s one of the most validating and calming things. Can’t thank you enough.
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This man is a good example of what it means to have integrity. Doing what is right no matter who is watching..
Especially when there is no direct benefit to you..
“They put your soul in a box.” Wow. That is a perfect way to describe what happens with authoritarian religions. It’s all about the rules and keeping up an appearance, and it cuts you off from that connection you talk about because you can’t even connect to yourself for fear of encountering those doubts you’re supposed to be suppressing. Thanks so much for sharing your story.
Yes! The way he articulates it so clearly and beautifully is so helpful (and resonates deeply, having excaped a cult-like community myself)
Break the silence. Break the cycle.
For better or worse, these happenings within the dogmatic communities are coming to light for us to heal. For too long these types of behavior are hidden within religious bigotry. Men are NOT superior to women, the Creator of all things is a balance of both the divine masculine and divine feminine, go within your heart, GOD is only love, any teachings to the contrary are a distortion of the truth. God bless all these people who are willing to tell their stories. Shine the light☀️.
Beautifully said!
Yes 🙌
Amen!
there is no love without justice
A woman’s only job is to be a wife and mother. Giving women authority and voting rights has destroyed western civilization
Elad is the best! I’ve been friendly with him for years and I’m so proud to see him on your show.
Good to be open about closed society.
I had a similar experience in this same group, I think we even went to the same yeshiva in Jerusalem. Really healing to hear somebody else talk about it and validate many of the thoughts I've had but haven't been able to have understood or reflected by others.
Really?
I grew up in Chabad, I disrespect their beliefs and practices but never felt like it’s a u cult,
cult is not the right definition, you have full autonomy there, it’s not like other Orthodox groups
I was also diagnosed bipolar during the years that I was involved in a FBC that was really into the whole IBLP movement 💔 trying to navigate that while also dealing with my own was excruciating! It took me 18 years to get out. i’m so sorry for what you went through but so glad that you were able to get out!
18 years of your life lost. Happy you got out.
Your guest is so beautifully spoken, a pleasure to hear about his journey
I love this video!!! I was raised without any formal religion. It has been a mystery to me my whole life how and why people believed in organized religions of all kinds. The way your guest described his faith journey today helped me gain an understanding and appreciation for the struggle so many face. Thank you for sharing your light with the world. ❤❤❤
As a muslim, i have nothing but admiration for a hasidic man's ability to stand against islamophobia, and in a community that didnt tolerate speaking up against anything, specially with the tendency of so many - both muslims and jews - to think we HAVE TO be enemies.
Bravo!
Shalom/Salaam to you! May we all live in harmony as brothers and sisters ☪️✡️🤝
I’ve been following Elad for years online so thank you so much for having him!
The integrity of this man is awesome. Spirituality is not something to put in a religious box. Thank you for sharing.
If you think being Jewish is part of a religion, that’s the main first problem, so you never understand what it is being part of a nation with a history, culture and practice
@@Yosaif-Israel I know being Jewish is being in a culture. I was speaking to your comments on spirituality. I just think your journey and your speaking about it is bringing knowledge forward. Thank you for sharing your story.
@@shirleywiebe2530
A Jew is a Jew, no matter, if he’s aware of the culture or not, as the culture decides who’s part of it and who isn’t
I find it so fascinating the link between bipolar and religiosity. I don’t know quite how to put my finger on it but even close my atheist friends/family with severe bipolar, during manic flights they seem to see spirituality in all things.
Those with schizophrenia as well - the movie Altered States touches upon this, I think the quote is "not all religious people are schizophrenic, but 50% of those with schizophrenia experience religiosity" or something along those lines.
Not sure if it was ever a real statistic or not, but I believe the number is probably higher, tbh.
@@MissMentats oh believe me I learnt it early with my best friend. She joined a cult and it somehow triggered her bipolar which must of been dormant. Since then she’s been struggling in her manic episodes 🥲
Yes it is. Religious themes comes up a lot when ppl are psychotic too
This is a trope. You misunderstand what shrinks are actually talking about when religious people become manic.
@suigeneris2663 I've been manic and I can tell you firsthand that it feels like a spiritual experience. It's very easy to misinterpret the feelings because it feels so GOOD to be manic. Like, beyond beautiful. It's hard not to feel like you're being touched by God.
I'm sure many religious people experience mania, but there's no denying that there's also the potential for mania to lead to religiosity.
Omg am i first today? Thanks Shelise for posting!
🥳❤️
I've been a fan of Elad's writing for years, yet I didn't know a lot of the background story. I give him a lot of credit - he is courageous in many ways, and I'm comforted hearing that he's found a resolution for himself that blends community, spirituality, self and creativity. Keep going, Elad.
This is such a powerful episode. Thank you Elad, for sharing. Thank you, Shelise, for your questions. All of these themes have been a part of my evangelical fundamentalism deconstruction - different religion, similar experiences!
Thank you for sharing your story! I throughly enjoy when I hear, that's a great question, after Shelise asks a question! Girl, you are so aware, insightful, and thoughtful!! Thank you for being you!!!!
Aww thank you!
@@CultstoConsciousness thank you for creating this platform! It is so helpful to my soul to be able to shake my head yesss when I'm listening to someone speak and I so gratefully find myself doing it frequently while listening! You're priceless in my book!
How heart breaking; that the first story published regarding a persons story of abuse opened the flood gates to so many more. So much so that an entire new publication was created for them. So indescribably sad. There's so much abuse in this world and it is truly soul crushing.
The fact that some people were dissenters to these experiences being brought to light makes it very clear who the ones are that are perpetuating the abuse...
Being told you're supposed to think of a holy MAN during ejaculation whilst having intercourse with your WIFE is CRAZY
As an outsider, it’s fascinating how different ex-hasidic stories sound coming from men and women. Elad is obviously a great guy with a strong moral compass, but the community he describes is hard to recognize as the same Handmaid’s Tale hellscape from Beatrice’s story. The mere fact that it ever seemed possible to conceptualize its values as compatible with, say, gay marriage speaks to a very different experience. I’ve heard a few ex-hasidic stories from women, and they always describe a stifling world where everything is about sex, purity and shame, with very little room for any kind of actual religious meaning, or, heck, anything ar all that would make anyone want to join. Hearing it from a man, it makes a lot more sense how these movements do attract new members.
You do make some good remarks. You must also realize that Chabad Lubavitch Hasidim are different than Satmar Hasidim.
You're definitely right in terms of the differences between men and women, but a big part of this also has to do with the differences in Hasidic groups. Beatrice's group is very different than the one I left, and this is a big reason it's important not to generalize about all such groups.
There is a big difference between someone who grew up in the community and someone who joined as an adult. That may explain the huge difference between Elad and Beatrice. In addition to Chabad being much more open than other Hassidic sects
That's my biggest qualm with the ultra ultra Orthodox, they don't want women to be involved in the religious talks, debates, and studies. Women are just as intellectual as men. I love Kabbalah and the Zohar and studying all cultures and philosophies.
Congrats to Elad on getting out. A question that I was curious about but didn't happen to come up in the interview: How did Elad's parents feel when he joined the strict Hassidic community and what is his relationship with them like now?
I wondered about that too….
At first I skipped this video thinking I couldn't relate to his story, but this is now probably my favorite on the channel! It's so true when you said you never know which story will click. It's how he described looking for a community and interesting conversations and what a lonely journey that can be, then high control groups (or in my case, a high control person) takes advantage of that vulnerability. I wonder what can be done to protect/heal these vulnerable as I still can't think how I would have protected my younger self. I think you doing these interviews will lead to greater systemic changes. Knowledge is power!
Well said.
I am glad you got help during the episode. My mom has those episodes and doesnt get help it can be scary. Bless you
“It was in you all along.”
I got Wizard of Oz vibes.
Thank you for having a platform for survivors to share in a kind manner.
Howv wonderful to hear about Hasidism from a male POV. I am so pleased to know there are men who question the rules. Thank you!
Thanks, a fantastic interview
This is a very interesting and important platform for insights into the mystery of cults. Thank you for bringing light into the darkness.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and your thoughts, I loved reliving with you part of your ongoing spiritual journey. Wish you the best, and thanks again CtC Team for such high quality videos and amazing guests.❤
I really appreciate this channel, your work and this conversation 🙏
I am a new subscriber and want to tell you again how much I am enjoying your channel. Your interview style is thoughtful, intelligent, and respectful (you let your guests talk). Every interview, albeit very different, leaves me with knowledge I didn’t have. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing!
I think when Shelise asked about him being able to have a career, his answer was thoughtful.
I have also seen I think, it is because this man wasn’t a rabbi, so he was welcomed and used to actually work to sustain those who are sitting around studying all the time.
This is structured very similar to Christianity: “go to work and bring us your money (tithes supported by specific texts used out of context) so we can live in houses nicer than yours, vehicles your guilted into giving us, and so we can pretend we are smarter and more holy than you.” The way of the Nicolaitans. Even if it’s somewhat unconscious, because it’s ingrained in the culture of the religion.
As someone raised up in a denomination of Christianity, I left the organized structure of the religious aspects as an adult, because I started questioning the power structure, among other issues with either preaching one thing and watching leadership do the opposite, or just using the scriptures completely misinterpreted to strong arm people and the way they thought, or not using scripture at all and everything was an anecdotal lecture (I used to think what a waste of time on my husband’s day off).
In that journey away, we were welcomed into studying with the very sect this man belonged to, even though we weren’t Jewish.
We were told that the rebbe had told his followers before he died that they were to go out to the goy as well and gather them together. Mind you, they think we are dogs at least. I’m still not exactly clear why. It was a very obscure explanation when given. My husband was very content in this because he enjoyed learning the mystical and esoteric aspects, but it turned me away, because it felt a lot like Catholicism in a lot of ways and I began to study on my own to understand the beliefs behind the veneer and it quickly brought In characters or entities other than “Hashem” if you will.
And definitely no Machiach yet. What ended up happening in our area (still happening) was an entire group of loyal “Christians,” that were being asked to donate money for every little thing this group wanted to do in their mostly exclusive community. It actually ended up being that this “goy,” group bought and donating land, houses, vehicles and equipment for their religious group, all for very limited access to their special religious teachings that seemed very diluted and watered down (still a lot of anecdotal information).
This group has a lot of very likable people, and I even care very much for many of them today. Would certainly sit and have a tea with them, and desire that they and their families do well, but I struggled with constantly being emailed and asked for money. At the time I was a stay at home mother, homeschooling 4 children and going to college to get a degree in science and veterinary science. Our family was living on one income, and my husband is a blue collar worker. It was very hard to see him stress about finances and being somewhat guilted about not giving, when sometimes our ends weren’t meeting that well ourselves.
It is, in my opinion tied very closely to political zionism and so many Christians can get on board with it.
My husband still doesn’t see an issue with it, and I am not interested, so this issue poses a very serious contention within our marriage. I have to tread very lightly because he will call me an anti semi, but I’m just trying to hold to the fact that I love all people and want to see them free from religiosity that seems to snare people with doctrines and traditions of man. Usually when it all boils down many are serving beyond their capacity to support the few who live in excess or at least fairly free, just like we have in govt today.
That was dismaying to read and borders on predatory behavior of someone not intelligent enough to understand they are being used. Does your husband not believe his family comes first?
@@missylearned9821
Hello,
Thank you for your response.
I’m a little unclear what some of your points were intended to mean.
For example, what part was dismaying in specific?
What individual are you claiming is not intelligent, and which individual do you feel is the being predatory?
And just like most people, they often think they are putting others first, but only within the context of what they feel is most important to them, and not considering that others may have a different set of values of importance, so I think in my 25 years of marriage, I would say I’ve not always felt like I was more important for sure. But I really don’t see that in many marriages, so it’s probably not all that uncommon. In actuality, is probably the most common reason women file for divorce more than men.
I’m open to hear your opinions, even if they are directed at me or different, because this is how we learn to appreciate others.😊
I cherish every episode. Thank you Shelice, and kudos to each and every guest for bravely sharing their experiences. My eyes open more and more each time!
Thanks for sharing your story Elad. ❤ another great interview Shelise, keep them coming.
Thank you for being on the true "tikun olam" side of Judaism. I hope you feel validated and affirmed. Your values are beautiful. I have never looked back since leaving Orthodox Judaism about 30 years ago; years before it had been as common for folx to leave. I'm proud of you for being open about your mental health; something that is rarely, if ever, discussed in these communities. Thank you so much for acting out on behalf of women trying to get their "get" (legal Jewish divorce).
Tikkun Olam side of Judaism?
I am almost 70 years old. No one previously used the phrase tikkun olam as it is used today. The Reform Movement was big on "social action".
Somehow "social action" became "tikkun Olam". The sad thing is that many Jews advocate for popular liberal causes, calling it "tikkun olam" without even investigating the Torah's position. Tikkun Olam is thereby giving Jewish approval to positions not really grounded in Judaism. Tikkun Olam has become the new idol. There are so many non-Orthodox converts and young people who praise Tikkun Olam as the most important part of Judaism. My mother and grandmother did not know the phrase "Tikkun Olam" unless possibly a reference to the Aleinu prayer.
I'm so excited to see elad here! hevria, him, and matthue roth all had a shockingly large impact on me, considering I've never believed in a g-d. I was never as on the path as elad but it's really very inspiring, and gives me hope for my people specifically, that we can recognize when harm is done and do everything in our power to fix it.
I'm so glad to hear that!
I was affiliated with this group (Chabad) very briefly in grad school after they love bombed me. It was one of the most horrible experiences of my life. The paranoia, brainwashing, and systematic shunning in this group is heartbreaking. After I left, the rabbi and his family harassed me and my family until my university issued a restraining order. They try to establish a presence on many college campuses to pull in vulnerable Jewish students. Thanks so much for bringing the dangers of this group to light!
Oh wow, that’s terrible. I’m sorry you went through that.
This group is very identical to the Jehovah's Witnesses. The only difference is that the witnesses are Christian. The love bombing, high mind control, brainwashing, scamming, shunning and following a person to school or work, hacking a person's phone, and slandering that person when the person leaves are all the same and truly demonic.
This is a complete eye-opener for me. I'd always thought that Chabad was orthodox, but not as 'strict' as Satmar. I'm sorry that you and your family had such an abusive experience and glad that you were able to get away!
So sorry you went through that. How horrible. Glad you got away. Wishing you healing
@@Nonameforyoudangit In my opinion, one of the most dangerous aspects of Chabad is that they do such a good job of marketing themselves and making the sect appear way more mainstream than it really is, not revealing their fringe beliefs until a new member is too far in. I'm glad this interview and my comment helped to change your perspective.
When you said that some people watch because it reminds them of thier family even though they weren't religious. I felt relieved. I agree. I hate that people have to go through pain. I always enjoy your commentary and the guest.
Another great video! Thank you for sharing your experience ❤
Wow, Elad was a joy to listen to. Thank you for having him as a guest!
This was a great interview! I am mainstream Jewish and it is so fascinating to see all the commonalities among high control groups, regardless of their religious affiliation.
Sooo glad you're able to post more Judaism content! I was raised Reform but am more Conservative now. I love my religion and my culture, which is so difficult to express nowadays with the pandemic of antisemitism.
you mean antizionism. if you are experiencing anti-Semitism too I'm sorry to hear that, but being against genocide from the Israeli government and people towards Palestinians is Not anti-Semitism.
@kellynaz9256 what genocide? Israel is fighting Hamas, who embed themselves into civilian populations. I would advise you to do more research. Look up "son of Hamas" to start.
@@jenniferj5324 Such Manichean point of view ! i would advice you to do more research.
@@kellynaz9256 this is an example of antisemitism. I’m not a Zionist and I’ve seen an explosion of antisemitism. Stop correcting Jews when we tell you what’s happening to us.
@@kellynaz9256True! But anti-semitism is also a big problem today. Especially with the uptick of conspiracy theories since the start of the pandemic which almost all are rooted in anti-semitism. L Zionism and anti-semitism are huge problems that exist simultaniously today
Chabad does a lot of outreach to attract teenagers/young adults. In some groups, the "public" it is even glamorous, women very well dressed, very high heels, wonderful wigs, they don't seem to see this as flaunting or against modesty, as other Orthodox groups behave. So, it attracts some very wealthy or influencial people, which is great for them because there is a lot of funding. Also, by being seemingly "open and welcoming" to non-religious Jews, you may feel you are welcomed, you are "cared for" (someone finds you a valuable asset), you belong somewhere, you have a place to go to every Friday night and Saturday morning... it "freely" offers belonging, but of course, if you like it a lot you start to get more enmeshed in this society. Sometjing similar happened to me and it was kind of "soothing" to me to have clear rules. Also as a single woman I felt "protected" (you don't physically greet men, you can't be alone with them, etc). It felt safe. I found a very nice group of people and felt I belonged and I took on practices just to belong, not that I really cared for them. I had a Ph.D. and i put my questioning 'on hold', like he did, just to not break the bubble. The moment you come back to "yourself" the bubble bursts and you feel you lived in a dream and come back to "normal" life...
What a beautiful/tragic/moving story! Thank you Elad! ☮️💜🤓
Elad! Thank you for sharing your amazing journey. So beneficial to so many people. ❤
What's so "amazing" about his journey?
What a wholesome interview! Beautiful education in spirituality. Thank you 😊
"Connected to someone larger than yourself" makes you humble. You should always believe in yourself but not believe you are the largest of all.
Knowing that absolute spirit is in you and in all living things is what humbles you. Knowing that none should be worshipped or seen greater than the other. Every thing outside you is a Illusion. You are the lighthouse looking for the light outside.
Thank you so much for sharing ! I think yall need a new t-shirt in the merch shop about how chicken nuggets may lead to a spiritual experience 😂
Really interested to listen to this. I was at a park with my husband and kids a few months ago, and a hasidic family showed up. They gave us lots of sideways looks, which is fine, I remained polite. I knew my tattoos, hair, and ripped of jeans was drawing their attention to me lol. Then my 1.5yr old began singing abcs, counting to 20, saying and signing her colors. The husband was side eye watching and listening. Eventually he turned to me and asked how old she is. I smiled and said she was one. He nodded and didn't speak to me again. I think we were all maybe oddly curious about the others.
What a cute story🙂
A lot of the times, people in religions are taught that "outsiders" either deserve a watchful eye or pity. The fact that you have educated your young daughter so well is amazing and maybe unexpected by this person who may have been indoctrinated to expect less from people outside his own community.
Even if that is not the case and I'm reading too much into it, it's still lovely to hear of people from different backgrounds connecting in some way, and a teachable moment that when it comes to the fundamentals of what is important to people of good character, we're not all as divided as some would like us to believe. Just because a person is different than you doesn't mean their bad or less than😊
@@jaccaj1626Agreed… it was a ‘human’ moment where another dad saw a sharp kid and maybe was surprised that with a mom who looks a certain way would have a smart child…. I think human beings in general are naturally curious about ‘the other’ ❤
I think he was impressed that the child was being educated by her parents at such a young age.
So glad Elad looks into social media influence and writes about how people can be manipulated. Very needed and hard to ... probably will take many lifetimes to get that message understood. Fricken' bots.
Great to listen to Elad Nehorai! I followed his blog Pop Chassid ages ago.
Thanks. I found his blog. It is still on line. Interesting to read.
Thank you for doing this
"Put your soul in a box" That is so well put. Love that.
Looking into the camera felt so powerful Elad xx
When I heard the last lady speak on the little boys go to the bath house it all clicked.
Which interview are you taking about? Thank you in advance ❤
@@billinswpdxit must have been the last one with Beatrice.
what clicked ?
What are you implying?
They normally go with their fathers. Not alone.
Thank you 💜✨💜
so good !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!thank you so much!
What an amazing episode with such a beautiful human 😊
I came from a Reform Jewish background. I went through a similar thing in college, except for me, it lead me into Christianity. I had a conversion experience in the middle of a mental health crisis.
In high school, my mom took me to very liberal synagogue. Too liberal. I felt that the relgion I'd been given was too open ended, it all felt so empty.
Reform Judaism is just secular humanism salad with a Jew ish dressing
reform judaism is not judaism
Thinking of giving your soul from the inside out is such an incredible image. I'll be thinking on that one for a long time. Thank you!
Covid and the media around Gett issues also is what helped me realize the Orthodox Jewish world is a cult. I am blown away by Elad's abilities to speak so eloquently on this so soon after. I am still deconstructing and healing from being born and raised in this community.
I’m going through deconstruction from a lot Christian beliefs, still don’t know where I’m going to end up but a lot of what he’s saying I can relate to and has been very helpful thank you
Elad, my partner and I met you a few years ago, although I imagine you don't remember us. There was a Torah Trumps Hate event that we attended. Thank you for sharing your journey in this forum and also for being someone of such high integrity and courage, living your truth and being concerned about oppression, homophobia, misogyny, and human rights abuses.. Kol HaKavod!.May you continue to go "from strength to strength."
Good to hear from you and thank you!
Every community has a percentage of Narcissists, psychopaths and sociopaths. The challenge is how to reform the cultural communities in a way that doesn't allow for cover ups and corruption. It doesn't help that most high demanding religious groups foster naive thinking making most people more vulnerable to the criminals.
I really appreciate a person who has ethics, against very bad odds, sticks to this ethics.
I wish nothing but the best for him.
Wow! So inspirational ! Thank you so much!
It is almost as if cults regularly, systematically cover up SA....hmmmm. Also no one outside these cults can see beyond the appearance of good religious people, and giving them waaaay too much leniency, fearing they will come across as prejudice.
Boys clubs rewarding misogeny.
Has to stop.
Glad you finally got an NJB on your podcast t
love ur channel ! have been a replay crew for a long while n wanted to say hello n thank you
Thank you, Elad.
Great topic. I love learning about all religions, even though I don’t practice any religion right now, nor was I raised that way. I find it fascinating, that us as humans find a way, to follow someone else’s beliefs.
I am amazed how Elad became surprised about Chabad and family purity, science, gay rights, and prejudice.
All of that is easily read about or observed.
I know Chabad from visits to Chabad Houses and reading. I attended a Chabad wedding in Crown Heights and made a couple visits to Kfar Chabad.
Chabad has a big presence on Internet and it is so easy to get information. I think Elad joined Chabad when he was young, lacking in knowledge and naive.
Nothing heals like sharing your authentic experiences. You can’t make this stuff up. The truth is always stranger than fiction.
Another great interview!
The dangerous thing about cults is the control, and when you are trapped psychologically, emotionally and spiritually... then, then... and additional expectations, be it direct or indirect.
Thanks for sharing.
❤️❤️❤️
thank you 🙏
I’ve only sorta recently learned how much being “culturally Jewish” isn’t as broadly known as I always thought. I think it’s largely due to a lot of the things that, while no longer “popular”, were definitely still a part of the pop culture zeitgeist in my younger (GenX) days having fallen out of fashion - think Joan Rivers, Woody Allen, the Borscht Belt comedy circuit/Vaudeville etc. The Mrs. Maisel vibe. There was def back in my childhood vestiges of that still floating about. I think maybe Seinfeld was (as far as I can recall in this moment) really the last BIG example of cultural-but-not-religious Jewishness & that was 30 yrs ago so I suppose it’s no surprise it’s not as pervasive.
Most Jews I know personally (myself included) are at bare minimum agnostic if not fully atheist…which a lot of people don’t understand how you can identify as both Jewish **and** atheist but here we are lol
@@marchi.fleming well I think for us; we are so used to know Judaism as an ethnic religion. So we know many who are borderline agnostic/atheist but will always be Jewish. It took me a while to realise so many don’t actually know this
I think those of us who grew up in America see the secular Jews you speak of- I just assumed they were spiritual/religious but not extremely observant.
There used to be American Jews who were not religiously observant but involved in secular Yiddish or Hebrew language/literature or Jewish literature/history or delicatessen or bagels & lox (when it was exclusively Jewish), Jewish humor or Jewish charities or Jewish clubs/organizations or other expressions of Jewish culture. Today I hear so many young non-observant Jews say they are culturally Jewish when in fact there is nothing Jewish in their lives at all.
@@stephenfisher3721 Maybe they should change the phrase to "ethnically Jewish"
@@staceyblock7240
That makes sense. Ethnically Jewish.
I loved Hevria, and I met Elad's wife, Rivka, many years ago. Beautiful souls!
Excellent interview! I highly recommend checking out Mr Nehorai's substack writings (linked in the description). I would, however, strongly suggest to him that he run his work by a good proofreader before publishing it on the web. There are occasional sentences that don't make any sense - he's left out a crucial phrase or left out a "not". His excellent arguments deserve a more meticulous presentation.
I can’t tell you how much of his experiences were mine as well. I have so much in common with him.
Loved hearing a male conversion perspective ❤
I have an issue with Elads use of the word missionary in relation to Chabad. The term infers converting religion which is anathema to Judaism. True they believe all Jews should be Observant of the Torah.
I so identify with what you experienced. I hate labels. And the word denominations they sum up under a few categories Catholic, Jewish, Methodist, Christian, Morman. they all have sub categories with labels. I’m just out here trying to learn and follow Jesus. So many labels and I hate it in Christian religions there are so many high demand sectors. You spoke about divorce in Jewish “religion”. So many Christian sects are the same. The man always retains his dignity and standing in the church while the women are shunned, they ruined a whole family… I only go under Jesus follower❤. Thank you for sharing your story
Another great episode adding to this wise body of knowledge 👏
Sounds like he had an OBE, out of body experience, as apposed to an NDE? Darius Wright describes the same thing, falling back into your body. He has many people on his channel who have had successful controlled OBE’s. Very interesting because 100% of them experience something greater, an understanding that there is more than what we perceive here. It seems there was also an attempt (early on) to minimize these NDE experiences because most people had an awakening at that point. Now that we have more access to these stories of NDEs/OBEs, we can see this is monumental, further understanding beyond what we have been programmed to believe.
I concur and would add that the time after such an experience and awakening can make one quite ripe for being scooped up into a high control group. Letting go of all the previous programming leaves a void which takes time, development and discernment to reorganize our sense of self. 💜
Having been brought up thinking everything thought, said & done was a sin I completely left religion behind. I'm now spiritual not religious. It took me many years to get past the fear of eternal damnation
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I’m sorry this happened!! I did just want to mention that there are a lot of different flavors and shades of conservatives. I can definitely see why this guy sees as he does based on the experience he had. A lot of other conservatives are way more chill, like science (fangirl over it in my case! 😂), and are fine with equality of the sexes, as an example.
Elad Thank you for sharing your journey and being so transparent with your past. It is nice to see a man come forward and share his experience when it is often that these high control high demand organizations hold women and children in captivity. It is nice to have a man recognize that and speak up on their behalf.
I grew up in a fundamental Christian organization with a hidden Jewish lineage. My grandfather knew 7 languages including Hebrew and Greek. I love languages and linguistics and studied them in college. I believe all of these rules that you experienced is what the writer Paul in the New Testament is trying to help people break free from in much of what he is addressing as law, are these rules. And these laws of your moment to moment experience and keeping Jews and gentiles separate is what he is addressing in his letters. I do not believe it is the original commandments of God but these fences and boxes and traditions of man which put woman under bondage. Unfortunately the translators are not familiar with the chabad and the Hasidic way of life and not understanding this, do Injustice in their translations to what Paul is saying. I also believe that Paul was trying to give women more Liberty but the misogynistic translators, translated not according to the Greek that is there, but with a male chauvinistic gatekeeper mindset. Where in the original Greek a woman is allowed to not keep silent, will be translated as must keep silent. Then these false Prophets and their heresies push the subjugation of women and children under these tremendously mistranslated portions. Ugg as a linguist and someone who grew up in the shame of having to be covered, these mistranslations drive me crazy. What freedom we could bring to people if these translations were handled properly. I have created study notes on a book in the New Testament Galatians which should be an analysis of how to stay out of cults. However it's so badly translated it does not bring forth the freedom and the respect to God's laws that it truly should. Praying for all of our freedom to manifest in ever in greasing glory to glory as we behold the true Father's face. As Jesus said the truth should set us free not hold us in captivity.
Just to clarify, Hasidic "missionaries" don't proselytize to non-jews. Also, I too had almost identical near death experience. It's amazing to hear someone else tell of their experience with almost identical words that I experienced.
Once again this video makes me think about how much I want to talk about my experiences in the queer and leftist communities. I am still queer and I am still a leftist, but I have been greatly harmed groups in this space.
yes, leftism is its own cult
They can be just as harmful because the tactics of thought-control and extremism don't discriminate between right or left, biblical, corporate or new age, group or domestic. You should share your story. There is an East Asian-American man whose name I can't recall right now who expossed Antifa and still gets death threats daily from them.
@@ericah6546 Yeah, unfortunately controlling group dynamics pop up everywhere and it's made me feel unsafe in the world for a long time. I'd be interested in hearing that guy's story if you can remember his name. I think that toxic behaviour can especially breed in environments where people are convinced they have the moral high ground. I realized that I really have to work on myself in order to stay grounded and recognize those kinds of dynamics earlier.
Shalise, you look just beautiful! Thank you for providing this platform! Jonathan, you're also a beautiful rockstar! ❤ Just know that if I ever run into you guys in person, I'll be fan-girling!😂
Haha we’d love to meet you!😁❤️
That's so interesting about the Connecticut/Chicago contrast! I grew up in CT and moved to Chicago and had the exact opposite experience: CT had a prominent Jewish community near me, and Chicago was more diverse and secular. Perhaps it speaks to the insular nature of Jewish communities. People tend to cluster for safety due to our history of persecution, including the more liberal Reformed congregations.