An exploration of Hasidic Jews struggling to live within their restrictive communities—and; in some cases; to carve out a new life beyond them When Hella Winston began talking with Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn for her doctoral dissertation in sociology; she was surprised to be covertly introduced to Hasidim unhappy with their highly restrictive way of life and sometimes desperately struggling to escape it. Unchosen tells the stories of these “rebel†Hasidim; serious questioners who long for greater personal and intellectual freedom than their communities allow. She meets is Malky Schwartz; who grew up in a Lubavith sect in Brooklyn; and started Footsteps; Inc.; an organization that helps ultra-Orthodox Jews who are considering or have already left their community. There is Yossi; a young man who; though deeply attached to the Hasidic culture in which he was raised; longed for a life with fewer restrictions and more tolerance. Yossi's efforts at making such a life; however; were being severely hampered by his fourth grade English and math skills; his profound ignorance of the ways of the outside world; and the looming threat that pursuing his desires would almost certainly lead to rejection by his family and friends. Then she met Dini; a young wife and mother whose decision to deviate even slightly from Hasidic standards of modesty led to threatening phone calls from anonymous men; warning her that she needed to watch the way she was dressing if she wanted to remain a part of the community. Someone else introduced Winston to Steinmetz; a closet bibliophile worked in a small Judaica store in his community and spent his days off anxiously evading discovery in the library of the Conservative Jewish Theological Seminary; whose shelves contain non-Hasidic books he is forbidden to read but nonetheless devours; often several at a sitting. There were others still who had actually made the wrenching decision to leave their communities altogether. In her new Preface; Winston discusses the passionate reactions the book has elicited among Hasidim and non-Hasidim alike.Named one of Publishers Weekly's Ten Best Religion Books of 2005.Honorable Mention in the 2012 Casey Medals for Meritorious Journalism
#620177 in Books Sterling Pub Co Inc 1990-04Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.75 x 5.50 x .50l; #File Name: 0806958464128 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. A Nice Little Introduction to the Uniforms of ACWBy D. Kong"Uniforms of the Civil War in Color" by Philip Haythornthwaite is published by Sterlings in the U.S. and by Blandford in the U.K. It is one of the books in the "Uniforms of" series. More than 20 years ago; I first came into contact with this series of books through the purchase of "Uniforms of Waterloo in Color" also written by Philip Haythornthwaite. I was impressed by the book's information and its color plates and that prompted me to purchase this one a year ago. "Uniforms of the Civil War in Color" was originally published in 1975; a year after the publication of "Uniforms of Waterloo in Color." You can tell that Mr. Haythornthwaite has been a prolific writer and he is indeed one and a well-known military historian and uniformologist. He is well regarded in the circles of military historians; uniformologist; modelers; re-enactors and wargamers. The "Civil War" in this book title refers to the American Civil War; a popular wargame period. This book is about 192 pages long and; like all the other books in this series; it is in the size of a small paperback novel. This makes carrying it around for a quick reference or read easy. After 20 years; I still have my "Uniforms of Waterloo in Color" on the nightstand next to my bed and frequently flip through it to read and re-read the many descriptions. This one will no doubt experience a similar fate. This book has 64 color plates with half of them deplicting various units of the Union Army and the other half deplicting units of the Confederate Army. It includes a "Historical Introduction" chapter which provides a brief description of various campaigns; such as the Penisular Campaign; the Second Bull Run Campaign; the Antietam Campaign; the Fredricksberg Campaign; the War in the West of Mississippi; the War in the Eastof Mississippi; the Gettysberg Campaign; War in the West; War in the East; Naval Operations; the Valley Campaign; Petersburg; the Atlanta Campaign; the March to the Sea; the Franklin-Nasville Campaign; the War at Sea; the Selma Campaign; and the Appomattox Campaign. However; probably due to the size and nature of this book; the description of each of these campaigns is often a one-paragraph affair. Those who want to acquire a more in-depth knowledge of this war will need to consult other books that tackle the political and military history rather than the uniforms of this war. For those who want to further explore the history of the uniforms of the two armies; there is a list of sources and references on pages 7 and 8 of this book. Brief descriptions and information of the uniforms of the units in the color plates appear on pages 135 to 184. There is an Orders of Battle of the two armies (Army of the Potomac (Union) and Army of Northern Virginia (Confederate) on pages 185-191. Sketches of Confederate amy belt plates are on page 192. Other chapters include Artillery of the Civil War; Firearms of the Civil War; Edged Weapons of the Civil War; Regitmental Uniforms; and Uniforms of the Civil War which is subdivided into sections including Rank Markings; Belt-Plate and Buttons; and Federal Corps Badges. This book is a wonderful introduction to the uniforms of the American Civil War. Modelers and wargamers who want to find a quick reference of the uniform of a certain unit of a particular arms during the war will find this a very useful guide. Those who are military collectors or serious uniformologist may find this not adequate; but then this book is not intended as a guide for those purposes.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A fine book of illustraingBy Grover SmithA really well done small book ; though big on the number of pictures combined . Just about every other page is a individual solider . Plenty of detail in the drawing . Would be especially good gift for any one interested in Civil war or military history .0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Louis A. DiazGood illustrations.
