Welcome to the Forward’s coverage of Hasidic Judaism, a sub-group of Haredi Judaism that adheres to the historical traditions of Eastern European Jews, including communicating in Yiddish.
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Breaking News Baruch Lebovits Plea Deal Falls Through — Retrial Looms for Child Abuse Suspect
The prospect of a plea deal for accused child abuser Baruch Lebovits was shot down by both the prosecution and defense — prompting a judge to move toward a retrial of the tangled case. Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Mark Dwyer set a new hearing on January 23, at which he is expected to set a date…
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Life Hasidic Sex Abuse of Boys Is a Feminist Issue
There are so many stories in the news emerging from the Orthodox community about boys in the religious community — literally from here to Australia — that it’s hard to keep track. Ben Hirsch, director of Survivors for Justice, a Brooklyn organization that advocates for Orthodox sex abuse victims, has recently been quoted as saying…
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Breaking News Firing of Bearded Hasidic Man From NYPD Academy Ruled Religious Discrimination
A federal judge ruled that a Hasidic police recruit who said he was fired from the New York Police Department because he would not trim his beard was the victim of religious discrimination. Fishel Litzman could be reinstated in the coming days, according to the New York Daily News. Federal Judge Harold Baer issued his…
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Opinion Hear Sam Kellner — In His Own Words
For this week’s story about the cases of accused molester Baruch Lebovits and accused extortionist Sam Kellner, the Forward was provided with a trove of secretly-recorded conversations. Among the recordings is a conversation Sam Kellner had with the family of a man who had already pled guilty to abuse charges. Over the course of 80…
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News Sam Kellner’s Tangled Hasidic Tale of Child Sex Abuse, Extortion and Faith
This is a story about religion, sex abuse, power, extortion, bungled prosecutions and the pitfalls of pursuing justice in an insular Orthodox community where disputes are solved internally and mistrust of outsiders reigns. It involves a convicted sex offender; a Hasidic multimillionaire oil and diamond dealer; a drug addict; a New York assemblyman; a supporting…
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Breaking News Troubled Trial of Sam Kellner Is Delayed — Claimed His Son Was Abused
The troubled bribery and extortion trial of a Brooklyn man who says his son was a victim of child abuse has been delayed — again. Laughter could be heard in the Brooklyn Supreme Court courtroom, November 12, when prosecutor John Holmes said that the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office was still not ready to try the…
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Forward 50 2013 Weberman’s Victim
Though ineligible for our main list because of her anonymity (hence no photograph), the bravery of one young ultra-Orthodox woman merits special note. Despite massive communal opposition and threats she stood up for Orthodox victims of sexual abuse. Prior to the 2012 trial of Nechemya Weberman, the Satmar community raised $500,000 for the accused and…
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Culture Ex-Hasidic Woman Marks Five Years Since She Shaved Her Head
I remember the first time I felt the cold, prickly air on my newly shaved head. I remember looking in the mirror. I remember staring at the pile of auburn hair in the vanity sink of the cozy basement apartment I now shared with my husband of less than a day. I remember my mother…
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