When making the decision to leave an ultra-orthodox Jewish community, many individuals face devastating realities: the loss of spouses, access to children, parents, etc. Beyond these familial ties, there has been significant press in recent years about the psychological and fiscal impact of severing these ties. The decision to leave orthodoxy can be an incredibly lonely one, and the results can be fatal, as we have most recently seen in the case of Faigy Mayer z”l.

The Jewish Funders Network values inclusion, eilu v’eilu, and strives to create a safe space for proactive conversations around even the most controversial topics. With this value set in mind, we have brought together a group of individuals experienced in this field to discuss how philanthropists can effect positive change in incidences such as these.

Join us on September 8th at 2pm EST for a webinar with Lani Santo, Executive Director of Footsteps, an organization committed to helping former ultra-orthodox Jews find their way in secular society; Shulem Deen, author of All Who Go Do Not Return, a memoir of his personal story of leaving ultra-orthodox Jewry; and Juliet Eurich, Executive Director of The Alvin and Fanny B. Thalheimer Foundation, an organization that supports Footsteps and its mission to aid individuals such as Shulem and Faigy.

To read more about this issue, please see these resources:

http://www.jta.org/2015/04/08/arts-entertainment/hasidic-rebel-shulem-deen-on-leaving-orthodoxy-and-losing-his-children

http://forward.com/news/317900/the-brave-life-and-shocking-death-of-faigy-mayer/  

http://gothamist.com/2015/08/12/ultra_orthodox_jewish_struggle.php