Close your eyes and open your heart

I officially stopped posting until after Rosh Hashana, but this thread title caught my eye, and all I can say is: MyPureNeshama, you MUST publish this! So well-written! It’s the harsh truth, that behind SOME rebellion is terrible, irreversible trauma. I would only add that perhaps not EVERY teen in this state has gone through such extreme trauma, since as we know, sometimees people simply make incorrect CHOICES. But I plead with any poster who feels like bashing this thread, which is clearly being written in GREAT PAIN: “Hold your tongues” unless you can post respectfully, please! And MyPureNeshama:I just want to say,that even though it’s normal to feel absolute and justified repulsion to your abuser(s),NONE of the behavior you decribed – NONE of it – brings a Jewish girl deep happiness. A temporary “high”, a little fun,yes — but happiness? I think you yourself would be the first to admit that true joy is NOT a component here. Always remember that genuine, loving, frumkeit DOES exist. This year, try and find an authentic Jewish woman who has a bit of time for you: You will see, a TRUE Jewish life (MINUS the horrible abusers, and some overly-judgmental people)can bring you lasting happiness, and inner peace. I’ve experienced abuse, not the kind you are referring to here, but it’s still painful, and I can honestly say that staying close to Hashem is the wind beneath my wings, and probably the reason my own children have the strength to endure B”h,despite challenges.

Onit: I wish you were speaking on behalf of everyone. Unfortunately, unconditional love is a bit hard to come by in these insular frum communities.

Mypureneshama- I must have read your post a dozen times by now. It is so well articulated, and so powerful and true. I could go into a whole tirade about this too…but my only wish is that someone make a worldwide movement about this issue. However, realistically it would never pick up anywhere but in my dreams 🙁

And it should keep on getting better every year after that!