All Who Go Do Not Return

Shulem Deen's memoir opens with his expulsion from his Skverer Hasidic community in New Square, New York. The story that unfolds is a beautiful portrait of his loss of faith, his interaction with the modern world, and his loss of family. The title, derives from kol bo'eho lo yeshuvun, all who go to her do not return, which Deen writes "so says the Bible regarding women of loose morals. So said the rabbis of the Talmud regarding heresy." Shifting from one world full of brotherhood and ritual to a world where no one seems to care about you could not have been easy, and Deen does a fantastic job of telling his tale. He writes that he does not want to encourage people to leave; simply, that he did it and that is what happened. He misses his children, the holidays... Even though the memoir can come across as highly critical of Hasidic life, he says in an interview "I have no animosity towards the Hasidic community as a collective. I have tremendous affection and sympathy for what they're trying to do. They're trying to preserve a cherished worldview within a world that is very hostile to it. I disagree with the degree to which choice is taken away from individuals in the service of that, but I understand it." Overall a stunning portrait of Hasidic life in America (even for those who know next-to-nothing about Hasidism) and about one man's journey away from the Hasidic world. Rating: ★★★★