If you take a tour around the Jewish Blogging world you will find countless blogs written by the chassidic fringe about their experience of being stuck in a Charedi world while they are non-believers. There are some great sites out there to tune you into the rather rebellious Chassidic Underworld, which I have tasted in Brooklyn, Monsey and at Chulent gatherings – but, now there is a site which I have high hopes for (unfortunately many Chassidic Bloggers use blogspot platform which is terrible and do not update often enough) – Unpious.com is a multiple authored collaborative site devoted to the Chassidic Fringe. I have read most of the stuff on there, it is well written and although much of it I don’t find entertaining – I think that may be because I am not Chassidish, there is still plenty of thought provoking discussion and I have very high hopes for Unpious.
Unpious Blog: Chassidic Rebels with a cause
Previous post: Sephardic Kosher Pizza Racket says it isn’t in the sushi business
Next post: Yeshiva Memories: Purim
-->
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
I find the site very peculiar. On the one hand, the writing is impeccable, leading to the assumption that there’s some fakery going on. But on the other hand, they write in a lot of tiny details that no outsider (not even Heshy) can fake.
I’m really confused.
I grew up under pretty much the same system,albeit Yeshivish. While I don’t claim to have nearly as much writing skills or knowledge of the outside world as some on Unpious,if you met me you would have no clue about my background. A lot of this knowledge is self taught, it’s totally unsurprising that there are some who succeeded in catching up to those outside of our world.
I grew up in the Chassidishe world so I know it’s possible—but highly unlikely. Couple that with the fact that they supposedly have several writers on there and it’s darn near impossible.
I know the fellow that started it, he’s a pretty smart and well read fellow- but I also find the writing a little too good for ex-chassidim.
Great article, awesome picture… Where do you get your pictures from?
I also don’t find it too entertaining. But as a born Chusid, I find it filling up that part which misses among the Chassidim, and which is responsible lot for the rebellion movement. This includes the taboo on socializing with the opposite sex, or the lack of socializing with other people other than Chassidim, or masking your different point of view on the de-facto bylaws or Halacha.
Meeting bloggers of the same background of the opposite sex, and socializing with them; Expressing your thoughts buried inside your heart for the past 15 or so years, and having people accepting it; And without compromising your anonymity, is what makes it so attractive.
The real problem is that they might find out that part of what they’ve taught is a lie. Once that happens they’ll start questioning everything.
That pictures rules. Is that how you bid “one time chai” in Villiamsburg?
These are sad articles on this site. These poeple are really in the hole. On Frum satire we might not be so religous but at least we are happy. The stories on unpoius blog involve rape, death, and serious depression. Personally, I was taught that a jews gashmius is ruchnius. If you see someone who is in real bad straights – thats it, thats where the mitzvah is to help him, period. not with torah, not with shul, just with being there for them. In case anyone knows Im talking from expierence my bro was a Herion addict.
Clearly they’re just waiting for you to swoop in and help them out….
I always find it peculiar that some on the more modern side of Orthodoxy (to say the least) find Chasidim to be a bunch of backwards twits. Some of us take our time to try to learn the language, and some of us actually succeed. I can vouch for most of the writers as genuine Chasidim or ex-Chassidim who grew up speaking Yiddish. We aren’t just a group of retards. Some who stay and remain frum too are brilliant scholars.
Not everyone to the left of chasidish thinks chasidim are backwards twits. ((folks))
“I find the site very peculiar. On the one hand, the writing is impeccable, leading to the assumption that there’s some fakery going on”.
” highly unlikely. Couple that with the fact that they supposedly have several writers on there and it’s darn near impossible.”
” I also find the writing a little too good for ex-chassidim.”……
Guys, I feel your pain. Pathetic, isn’t it. Some of your primitive, uneducated, narrow minded co religionists appear to be much more talented, sophisticated, and articulate than you! And what blasphemy. They seem to have more knowledge of both the frum and the secular world. That’s like eating the cake and having it too!
I smell the start of a serious identity crises here. Some chasidim are leaving the zoo! Will that make us MOs the new monkeys?
Who will we be patronizing to now? If the chasidim become progressive members of society,
That makes us the new green horns
” But as a born Chusid, I find it filling up that part which misses among the Chasidim, and which is responsible lot for the rebellion movement. This includes the taboo on socializing with the opposite sex,”
Poor brother. My heart breaks for you. You must have left the chasidic ghetto a tad bit to early.
If a chosid wants to hook up with
women, he doesn’t need unpious. He can open a Facebook account or become a member of sites such as the now defunct Shaindy.com.
“The stories on unpious blog involve rape, death, and serious depression.”
Really Rizzo? Rape? Where, what? Death? Are you referring to the post about a shive call? Yes, chasidim die, that is true. Sometimes they also struggle with depression the way many human beings do, though I hardly recall reading about it.
I doubt all the writers are that good. More than likely that they have a good editor to fix up grammatical and spelling errors.
Judging by the number of comments, they seem to have a decent number of viewers.
Phil,
the comments are closed,
That makes for a closed community and specific group of people that can write and comment. they do have some interesting reading material, and I do give them credit for the great spelling and grammar.
The comments are not closed – anyone can comment
” But as a born Chusid, I find it filling up that part which misses among the Chasidim, and which is responsible lot for the rebellion movement. This includes the taboo on socializing with the opposite sex,”
Poor brother. My heart breaks for you. You must have left the chasidic ghetto a tad bit to early.
If a chosid wants to hook up with
women, he doesn’t need unpious. He can open a Facebook account or become a member of sites such as the now defunct Shaindy.com.
“The stories on unpious blog involve rape, death, and serious depression.”
Really Rizzo? Rape? Where, what? Death? Are you referring to the post about a shive call? Yes, chasidim die, that is true. Sometimes they also struggle with depression the way many human beings do, though I hardly recall reading about it.
I cant belive it…..The writing is way to sophiticated for Chasidim.
Coming from a person who wrote “way too” with only one o.
There are plenty of Chassidim and ex-chassidim with great writing skills. I think you folks are being way too judgmental – read the blog, don’t read the blog, does it really matter. It’s interesting material either way, what’s the difference who writes it.
I personally know many of the writers, and I can vouch for the fact that the ones that say they are Chasidim (or ex-Chasidim) actually are. Two or three aren’t, but they don’t say they are. Crazy, huh? I’m a shiksa and I’m loving it. Maybe you MO guys can get together with them one night over shabbos dinner.
{ 1 trackback }