Leaving the ultra orthodox Jews seeking a new life in Germany, DW Documentary
Increasing numbers of Jews have been leaving ultraorthodox communities in recent years. Surprisingly, Germany has become a popular refuge for them. Rabbi Akiva Weingarten has been helping them. More than 1. 3 million Jews live in ultraorthodox communities worldwide. Its a kind of parallel universe in which only Gods laws count. Every aspect of everyday life is clearly regulated: The women are responsible for the home and for looking after the children while the men devote their lives to religious study. But some ten percent of ultraorthodox Jews in Israel go on to quit their communities and that figure is growing. The majority are young adults and, surprisingly, many come to Germany. Akiva Weingarten was one of them. He grew up in an ultraorthodox Satmar community in New York State but made a radical break in 2014. He left his wife and children and started a new life in Berlin without a credit card, a bank account or a job, or any relatives to fall back on. He is now surrounded by a free community
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