I found this article published this past June in Tablet magazine “WHAT BECOMES OF TROUBLED ULTRA-ORTHODOX KIDS?” about what’s being done in Israel, very inspiring and eye-opening.
And interesting that Michael Bloomberg (who I generally don’t admire) through his “Jerusalem Innovation Team” is involved in coordinating the various organizations. Unless there’s some hidden agenda I’m missing, or it’s not true/exaggerated, we have a lot to learn and incorporate. And of course need philanthropists and perhaps government funding right here in NY to implement something like this over here on a mass scale. (Not so fast with our government for various reasons, I’m not kidding myself.)
Then maybe “Footsteps” will become obselete in a few years. Hey a girl can dream…
Anyone have some input?
One of the things that struck me is how the founder of a few institutions, Esther Rozman, specifically doesn’t lump all at-risk kids together, as drugs etc. can become an issue for those exposed to others that are worse off. Maybe Malky Klein would have been alive today if we had such institutions here.
(Incidentally, for those that haven’t yet heard her father’s interview, it’s really a must to listen to.)
Also noteworthy, no mention of the word “stigma” or “shidduchim” in the whole article. So perhaps Israelis truly are a different breed, the author doesn’t want to give these fears legitimacy, or she is simply unaware of these simmering issues.