CNN video on Satmar's that leave the fold.

↑ Blossom ↓

Thu, Jan 26 2006, 12:23 am

Quote:

,they(chasidish people) didnt not except me because I am lubavitch

First of all Lubavitch is Chassidish too.

Quote:

so deep down they all treat us the same

Sorry about your bad experience. But that still does not validate any of your comments or make them true.

↑ sarahd ↓

Thu, Jan 26 2006, 5:54 am

I am sorry to say this, Should we all judge your kehilla based on your comments here?
edited by mod

↑ goldrose ↓

Thu, Jan 26 2006, 8:50 am

It's since way back that Lubavitch doesn't use satmar hechsherim etc.
edited by mod

↑ gryp

Thu, Jan 26 2006, 9:20 am

. show some Ahavas Yisroel, because otherwise youre just showing ignorance.

edited by mod

Last edited by gryp on Thu, Jan 26 2006, 10:28 am; edited 1 time in total

↑ sarahd ↓

Thu, Jan 26 2006, 10:08 am

Did you PM the mods about this thread? If not, they may not be following it and might not aware of what's being written.

downsyndrome ↓

Thu, Jan 26 2006, 10:24 am

Hi Gals!
I will take advantage and add my two cents worth of knowledge.
and some mussar should be handed down to those who need it. Sometimes, even as adults we tend to act like kids, let's talk this out in an adult, mature, peaceful manner until we can all come to some conclusion that makes sense, yet feel comfortable expressing our opinions, as long as they are not bigotted and hateful.
Now, let me take a deep breath and start on my 'tirade'....
I am born and bred Satmar, live in Williamsburg and I have a lot to say. This is an absolutely beautiful community, flawed in some ways, but unbelievably great in many others. I, personally, attended Satmar girls school. My family upbringing contributed to the education I was receiving at school and I find tht we are a very open-minded worldly family. True, there are families here that want their children to be more insulated from the outside world - kol hakovod to them - it is their choice and their decision. However, every community and every chassidus and every walk of life produces differing peoples. There are wonderful people in Williamsburg and there are wonderful people in Crown Heights. There are plenty of crackpots in Wmsbg. and there are plenty of crackpots in CH. There are college-educated males who will grab cameras out of their wives hands and make nasty comments too. There are professionals who are abusive and end up sitting in prison for the low-life crimes they have committed against human beings.
Just last week I discussed with my 12-year-old cousin, who attends Satmar school, what she is learning this year. The level of her math studies blew my mind away! It is the level of some of the neighborhood high school! So much for CNN's 'they don't teach math or science'. My 12-year-old daughter knows more about nucleuses and moelcules and what not (I can't even spell those words...) better than I will ever understand how to cook a pot of cholent...
At the risk of sounding like a bal gayvoh, I would like to let this reading audience know a little about what this Satmar woman, yours truly, has done during the last decade, just so that I can disspell any myths that exist about this chassidus and its community. Please understand that I am not trying to 'patronize myself', I just want to share with you the possibilities of every person as an individual.
Because I became a parent of a special needs child sixteen years ago, I have undertaken to become an advocate for the special needs community. Hashem, in His infinite wisdom, must have liked what I was doing, cuz 2.10 years ago He also bentched us with a medically fragile child, putting me into another league of advocacy.
Do date, I am the publisher of a magazine, have opened a yeshiva for boys with Down syndrome, have spoken before the Presidential Committee on Special Education in Downtown Brooklyn in one of the federal buildings to a committee that was flown in from Washington D.C., have spoken at a round table discussion on special ed at the AGudah Convention, and am involved in various organizations that offer support to parents of developmentally/medically challenged children.
I hope that I have shed some light on the stigma that so afflicts our community. As the generation born to Holocaust survivors it is our obligation to attempt to erase stigma and bigotry in this world, not let it fester, certainly not among yiddishe mommies who are trying to raise a holy generation.
Sarah S.
P.S. I met my husband only three times b/4 we became engaged and he is the most wonderful person in the world B'H. We celebrated our 21st anniversary and still goin' strong!!!

↑ goldrose

Thu, Jan 26 2006, 10:29 am

downsyndrom, kol hakavod, may you go from strength to strength beyond all limits!

↑ southernbubby

Thu, Jan 26 2006, 10:40 am

After that Satmar yid rescued my dripping wet boy froy the storm, I realized that we Lubavitchers had something to gain by forging a bond with the Satmars. This fellow taught my son and his friends the true meaning of ahavas yisroel and hachnachas orchim. He continues to welcome them into his home. I know of a Lubavitcher women who joined the Satmar Bikhor Cholim. I believe that she joined because it possibly the best Bikhor Cholim in the US. If the Satmars can help the Lubavitchers find a better way to solve the singles crisis, I am open to new suggestions. Lubavitch is known for outreach and for it's political stance in Israel. Satmar has a different focus; however, if a balance could ever be struck, it could be beneficial to both groups. We also must realize that within both Lubavitch and Satmar, there are factions that may not represent each group as a whole.

↑ Blossom

Thu, Jan 26 2006, 10:46 am

Down Syndrome I am awed!!! Are you by any chance the author of "Down Syndrome Amongst us"?

So many major organizations were started in Williamsburg. The world Renowned Organization "Hatzolah" for example.

I don't know where these people get such distorted impressions. I mean... they are utterly ridiculous.

↑ downsyndrome ↓

Thu, Jan 26 2006, 11:10 am

Yes, Blossom, I am indeed Mrs. Down Syndrome Amongst Us, if I may humbly admit.
You know, months ago a New York Times reporter was hospitalized for some reason or other and he wrote up his experience with the Satmar Bikur Cholim and the women who take food to the hospitals every day. He, himself, was the recipient of a bag of such food and he said he never ate such good chicken soup in his life! His description of the women was a bit 'odd' (but true) as the secular world sees it, but his uplifting comments about the wonders of this organization were a true kiddush Hashem! I can certainly attest to that - I myself was on the receiving end of their chesed for three months when my daughter was in the hospital.

↑ sarahd ↓

Thu, Jan 26 2006, 12:09 pm

I read an issue of your magazine on the internet, and it's impressive. I think we share an uncle, btw. - Very Happy

↑ downsyndrome

Thu, Jan 26 2006, 12:44 pm

Thank you, Sarahd.
Who is your uncle? If you don't want to publicize his name on the forum, please PM me.
SS

↑ goldhop

Fri, Jan 27 2006, 12:10 pm

Thanks for your beautiful story, DownSyndrome. I already know that you must be very special because I've worked with your oldest daughter and your husband and they are really really special themselves. Not to mention all the amazing things you've done yourself! Kol Hakavod!

avigayil

Fri, Jan 27 2006, 12:23 pm

I know several Satmar familes, as well as other chassidic families both in Williamsburg and K.Y.
I have some criticizim about the systems, but generally am in awe of how amazing these communities are.

There is so much chesed and hachnasas orchim. In K.Y. , when they were faced with special needs kids, they did not ignore the problem....they opened an entire special school for them! When the state did not want the Satmars using THEIR OWN school tax money to educate their own kinderlech....they took it to the Supreme Court and won!
Parents help their children to no end. Children learn to be responsible for each to no end as well.

I really wish other communities could adopt some of these traits. I believe there would not be such a strong shidduch crisis and special ed. crisis if they did.

↑ Pearl

Sun, Jan 29 2006, 3:32 pm

about dating, I thought of this thread when I read the following in Rachel Schmidt's book "love is not enough":

Quote:

couples should talk abt the similarities and differences of their lifestyles before marriage. couples who do not see each other much before marriage need to know that marriage does not make any spouse a mind reader. they can't get married with expectations, bec most of them will just back fire, creating a traumatic beginning.
don't expect your new wife or husband to know all your like, dislikes, moods and opinions. nor should you think you know eachother just bec you are married. you both married for potential goodness and compatibility between the 2 of yo9u, and the potential can take months and even years to bear fruit. don't be disappointed if you don't see eye to eye on many issues, from politics to spending money. in most instances, both of you are right - there is no one way of doing just about anything. the rule of the thumb is, if it's not a halachis issue, both of you are right. you just have to decide between you which factors omake on opinion of overriding concern. this means that one or both of yo9u may have to give in a little to come to a decision. [...]dating and being married is as different as day and night. [...]true love grows slowly like a seedling planted into the earth. experiencing both hardships and positive events together, all contribute to bringing a couple closer. during these times, both good and bad, mature communication is a must. talking forms a bond. [...]sensitivity, compromise and giving make all the difference.

↑ Crayon210 ↓

Sun, Jan 29 2006, 4:44 pm

avigayil wrote:

When the state did not want the Satmars using THEIR OWN school tax money to educate their own kinderlech....they took it to the Supreme Court and won!

When did this happen?

And what is the Satmars' "own school tax money"?

↑ sarahd

Sun, Jan 29 2006, 5:20 pm

This happened in the 1990s, and the tax money referred to is the taxes everyone pays for public education.

↑ Crayon210

Sun, Jan 29 2006, 5:28 pm

But why was it the Satmars' money? Wasn't it the city/state's?

Mod2

Sun, Jan 29 2006, 7:47 pm

Quote:

If not, they may not be following it and might not aware of what's being written.

Thats exactly what happend. Sorry ladies it's taking this long.

Remember we all have more in common that unites us then that which devides us.

Please lets be respectful of other shitas.

chen

Mon, Jan 30 2006, 2:42 pm

Mod2 wrote:

Remember we all have more in common that unites us then that which devides us.

Hear, hear.