“There is a suffocating lack of space for individuality in our communities”
Mrs. Barabara Bensoussan’s article beautifully highlights some of the unique obstacles baalei teshuvah (BTs) face. A baal teshuvah myself, I truly appreciate the cute stories of parents trying their very best, the reality of the overbearing financial struggles that come with living and raising a family in the frum community, and the challenges of living according to halachah and hashkafas haTorah.
However, this article misses the key challenge in our generation for baalei teshuvah.
Somehow, the frum community has been convinced that those who have tasted a life void of Torah and mitzvos and have chosen to return are “sug beis — second-class.” If you think I’m mistaken, consider how eager you would be to have a BT or an FFB-WL (frum from birth, with lapses) as a shidduch for your child or for yourself.
To me, the reason for this is clear and it must be addressed: Far too many shomrei Torah u’mitzvos do so out of a sense of commandedness and communal pressure; they lack connection to the Source. They go through the motions, serving G-d without an understanding of who they are, and Who He is.
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