Shulem Deen facts for kids

Shulem Deen (born in 1974) is an American writer and essayist. He used to be part of the Skver Hasidic community, which is a group within Hasidic Judaism. He is known for sharing his thoughts and questions about the Hasidic way of life.

Deen wrote a book called All Who Go Do Not Return in 2015. This book is a true story about his life. He also writes regularly for The Forward, a well-known newspaper. He started a website called Unpious, which is a place for people to share their views about the Hasidic lifestyle and beliefs.

His Journey as a Writer

Shulem Deen first became known for his blog called "Hasidic Rebel." He wrote this blog from 2003 to 2012. It was one of the first widely read websites by someone born into the Hasidic community who started to question his religious faith.

In 2010, Deen launched the Unpious website. He started it with another blogger who had also left the Hasidic community. Deen has been the editor of Unpious ever since. The website was created to be a place where people could share their opinions and criticisms about the Hasidic way of life and their beliefs.

Deen's book, All Who Go Do Not Return, came out in 2015. It tells the story of his journey from being a very religious member of the Skver Hasidic group to becoming a secular Jew. A "secular Jew" is someone who identifies as Jewish but does not follow religious laws. His book is considered one of the best true stories written by people who have left the Haredi world.

Deen writes often for The Forward. He also writes for other publications like New Republic, Salon, and Tablet. His articles often explore how the Hasidic and secular worlds connect. Even though some people see his work as critical of the Hasidic lifestyle, he has appeared on Orthodox media, like David Bashevkin's 18Forty podcast.

Today, Deen is a board member at Footsteps. This organization in New York City helps people who have left the Haredi Jewish community. It helps them adjust to life outside that world.

Awards and Recognition

• 2015 National Jewish Book Awards, Myra H. Kraft Memorial Award for Contemporary Jewish Life and Practice
• 2016 Great Lakes Colleges Association New Writers Award for Creative Non-Fiction
• 2017 Prix Médicis essai for Celui qui va vers elle ne revient pas (which is the French title for All Who Go Do Not Return)

His Life Story

Shulem Deen grew up among the Satmar Hasidim in Borough Park, a part of Brooklyn. When he was a teenager, he joined the Skver Hasidic dynasty. After he got married in 1993, he moved to New Square, New York. This town is the main center for the Skver movement. He has five children.

In 2005, leaders in New Square asked Deen to leave the community. This was because his ideas were different from what was expected. Several years later, he separated from his wife and completely left the Hasidic way of life. He doesn't see his children much anymore. They have stayed with the Skverer Hasidim in New Square, New York. Shulem Deen now lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Select Articles

• "Too Cool", Tablet, June 22, 2011
• "The Sound of Sin", Salon, April 19, 2012
• "In Death of Ex-Hasid, a Mirror for Trauma of Many", Tablet, October 2, 2013
• "Op-Ed: Chasidic Schools Ensure Ignorance and Poverty" , The Jewish Week, September 17, 2015
• "How I Kept My Faith in Faith", The Forward, December 1, 2015