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All Who Go Do Not Return
All Who Go Do Not Return: A Memoir | Shulem Deen
14 posts | 8 read | 44 to read
A moving and revealing exploration of ultra-Orthodox Judaism and one man's loss of faithShulem Deen was raised to believe that questions are dangerous. As a member of the Skverers, one of the most insular Hasidic sects in the US, he knows little about the outside worldonly that it is to be shunned. His marriage at eighteen is arranged and several children soon follow. Deen's first transgressionturning on the radiois small, but his curiosity leads him to the library, and later the Internet. Soon he begins a feverish inquiry into the tenets of his religious beliefs, until, several years later, his faith unravels entirely. Now a heretic, he fears being discovered and ostracized from the only world he knows. His relationship with his family at stake, he is forced into a life of deception, and begins a long struggle to hold on to those he loves most: his five children. In All Who Go Do Not Return, Deen bravely traces his harrowing loss of faith, while offering an illuminating look at a highly secretive world.
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Insightsintobooks
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Cinfhen Great book!!! If you loved or was interested by Unorthodox this is equally compelling!!!! 4y
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bort
Pickpick

😭

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Cinfhen
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#NoFemmeber #NonfictionNovember I‘ve posted about this book before but it‘s really one of the most fascinating stories about a modern day #heretic ✡️Shulem Deen was raised in the ultra orthodox Hasidic community. He was a bright boy with a curiosity, a niggling interest in the library lead him to discover a world outside his insulated neighborhood opening the doors to possibilities he could never imagine.

TrishB Are people still called heretics? Interesting! 6y
Megabooks Fascinating! I have had so many Jewish friends over the years, but I‘ve never known a current or former Hasidic. This is something I should definitely learn more about! 6y
Cinfhen Sadly he was excommunicated @TrishB and forced to give up all parental rights to his 5 children because he no longer believed in God 😢 6y
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Cinfhen Read it @Megabooks I think you‘ll find his story really interesting xx 6y
Cathythoughts 👍🏻👍🏻❤️ 6y
TrishB Wow 😮 I had no idea that sort of thing still happened (my ignorance and lack of religious beliefs!) 6y
Cinfhen It‘s a really extreme case because he belonged to such a strict and backwards ass fraction of Orthodox Jews @TrishB I was equally flabbergasted!!!! 6y
Billypar Such an interesting story! It's tough to find such communities today, at least as insulated as it sounds like this sect is. 6y
TrishB So sad too 😔 6y
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DyAnne
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Judy Blume is powerful.

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emilyhaldi
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Two memoirs that I read simultaneously last month that do not, in fact, #gotogether. One written by an excommunicated Hasidic Jewish man and the other by an indulgent French novelist arrested for doing cocaine... both allowing me insight into two very different worlds 📖
#SeptemberDanes

Cinfhen Did u enjoy them? I‘m in the mood for a good memoir!! 6y
emilyhaldi Well you KNOW I enjoyed the tagged book 😉 and the other one was just so-so. I‘m about to work my way over to this one... maybe it will peak your interest 🔥 @Cinfhen (edited) 6y
Kalalalatja I love that you did a different take on the prompt! 👏👏 6y
Reviewsbylola Memoirs are a favorite of mine! 6y
99 likes4 comments
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emilyhaldi
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Shulem Deen was a member of the Skverers, one of the most Hasidic sects in the US. His religion taught him that questions were not permitted and that he should #layallyourloveonme (me being his faith ✡️... stick with me here). But after being married and having 5 children he beings to question his religious beliefs and is shunned from his community as a heretic. I‘m 60 pages into this memoir and I‘m hooked!!
#ABBAinAugust

emilyhaldi Also my #booked2018 choice for #blameitonlitsy or in this case #blameitoncindy 😉 6y
Meredith3 Has Jaime read this? Also this reminds me of a fun Amish murderer... 6y
Insightsintobooks ...being able to question is one thing I Love about Judaism. The sages having questions is all over the Talmud. Sad that he was thrown out of his community for something that should be encouraged. I haven't read this, but it is on my TBR. 6y
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Reviewsbylola I can‘t imagine the idea of not questioning faith? 6y
Cinfhen I‘m sooo glad you‘re loving this book!!! It‘s really an eye opener 😢I don‘t want to say too much until you‘re done. 6y
Cinfhen @Insightsintobooks you have to read this book! Unfortunately , It‘s NOT surprising how his community reacts. In their eyes his actions are transgressions. It made me sooooo mad 😡😡 6y
emilyhaldi @Insightsintobooks @Cinfhen Have you seen the Netflix documentary One Of Us?? It follows 3 people who have decided to leave the Hasidic community and the retaliation is shocking. They are threatened, harassed, etc. Its a very interesting doc if you‘re interested. 6y
Insightsintobooks @Cinfhen I've put it at the top of my TBR. @emilyhaldi No, I haven't, I'll have to watch it. 6y
Cinfhen My hubby watched @emilyhaldi @Insightsintobooks he said it was pretty horrifying. It‘s sad how extreme some people take their religious beliefs and turn it into something else completely. I‘m pretty sure God never intended for any of this militant approach to religion. 6y
Centique @Cinfhen amen to that Cindy. I totally agree. I think every religion has its share of people who go too far - especially when they hurt and isolate others 😨 Great choice @emilyhaldi stacked! 6y
Insightsintobooks @Cinfhen I agree, I am very interested in reading this book. 6y
Mdargusch Sounds fascinating! 6y
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EvieBee
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Doctor appointment, smoothie and manicure before 9:30... ✅ New audiobook. Love books about Hasidism. Let‘s get this Monday done!

#CurrentlyReading #CurrentlyListeningTo #Audible #ReadingMyShelves

Rachellynnwright ❤️ the hair! 7y
Cinfhen This was such an eye opening read!!! My heart broke for the author. 7y
BooksForEmpathy So productive!! 7y
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Kshakal I love tropical smoothie cafe!!! 7y
Cathythoughts Gorgeous pic 💕 7y
julesG Gorgeous photo! You look very fresh. 7y
Reviewsbylola You look so spring-y!! Love your nails! 7y
tammysue So pretty!! And loving the pink nails 💕 7y
BellaBookNook Beautiful picture. Love the nail color and wow all before 9:30 - fantastic!! Hope you are enjoying your day. 7y
BarbaraBB Super nice picture 😘 7y
Buddys_Momma Nice picture! Hope you‘re now relaxing and enjoying the day!!! Nails are on fleek!!! 7y
EvieBee @Cinfhen Thank YOU for putting it on my radar awhile back. I finally just decided to get the Audible book and am so enjoying the pace and narration. I have a feeling it‘s going to be 💔 7y
EvieBee @BooksForEmpathy I feel it, too! Coming from someone who‘s been getting up at noon for a week lol! 7y
EvieBee @Kshakal I have been enjoying them so much! Hello summer! I do miss their half price happy hour though in the AM. 7y
Cinfhen Oh good, keep me posted. Does Shulem Deen narrate the audio? 7y
EvieBee @Cinfhen Yeah, he actually does. His pronunciations are perfect! 🤓 7y
DivineDiana You look fantastic! Pink nails! 💅🏻 7y
EvieBee @DivineDiana Thank you, Diana! 💕 7y
BrownGirlReading Love that nail color!😍 7y
EvieBee @BrownGirlReading Thank you, Didi! 💕 7y
BrownGirlReading Looking good! 6y
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Cinfhen
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#MarchIntoOz This is a fascinating memoir about a young man/father who was raised in an ultra Hasidic community. When simple curiosity leads him to first the library, then to the radio followed by television and the internet his insular world starts to unravel. #IDontBelieveAnymore quickly becomes Shulem Deen‘s battlecry. Side note, I met the author & he‘s a really sincere, intelligent, sweet guy with a great big laugh....Highly recommend!

AlaMich This sounds interesting! 7y
emilyhaldi I‘m really looking forward to this one! I purchased on bookoutlet after seeing one of your posts 😄 7y
Cinfhen I‘m super curious to hear what u think @emilyhaldi I really felt for both the author and his wife @AlaMich 7y
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ElishaLovesBooks I can‘t believe I haven‘t heard of this one! 7y
Cinfhen Definitely read this @ElishaLovesBooks it‘s eye opening even for an Orthodox Jew😱 7y
ElishaLovesBooks @Cinfhen It‘s definitely on my list now!! 7y
LeeRHarry So stacked! 7y
Cinfhen Great @LeeRHarry @ElishaLovesBooks hope u guys enjoy when u get to it!!! 7y
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Erynecki
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Pickpick

A former member of the Hassidic Skverers sect, Deen writes about his faith, curiosity, and the events that eventually led him to leave the insular community. I found it absolutely fascinating.

Cinfhen This was an eye opener ~ I felt so badly for the author and his wife as well. We read it for bookclub and had lots to discuss 7y
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lauren.lerner
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Pickpick

Poignant, powerful, and beautifully written, I know this one is going to stay with me for a very long time. It's been a long while since I dragged out finishing a book, but I didn't want this one to end. • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 • #memoir #jewishlit

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lauren.lerner
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lauren.lerner
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This book isn't what I expected and that's good. I love Deen's prose; his voice is so very clear. • #whatimreading

Cinfhen Our book club read this last year. Such a great discussion and we all sympathized with both the author and his wife!!! It was well written and heartfelt. 8y
lauren.lerner @Cinfhen - I have had so many colleagues see me carrying this book and stop me to tell me they loved it too (I work at a pluralistic Jewish day school fwiw). I told my husband that I am finishing this book tonight and he's not to bother me while I do! 8y
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lauren.lerner
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Evening reads. 📖📖

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Gittelbooks
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Memoir as thriller. Certainly not because of the subject- one man's departure from Hasidic life to the secular world, but because I couldn't wait to find out how his wife & children coped. Not well, it turns out. But no more spoilers. This is an exceptionally well put together narrative and an inside look at religion in the extreme. Worth your time if this subject appeals to you.