My daughter works at a medical office in a heavily Hassidic area. Her daily experiences reveal disturbing trends within a community that most Americans associate with solid values. By and large, we Jews are known for our emphasis on education. This reputation is fairly accurate but, amongst many Hassidim, “education” is only important in the religious realm. When it comes to secular knowledge, and practical skills, ignorance often rules.
I was sitting at the front desk of the doctor’s office when Hassidic gentleman of about 30 walked in. I recognized him and I’m acquainted with his family; he was born in the U.S. and has lived here his entire life. I gave him a form to fill out that would provide us with vital demographic information. He had no idea how to fill it out because he could not read it, nor could he write even a simple sentence in English. …
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oogenhand 