Touring the Village of New Square, NY

Touring the Village of New Square, NY

© (2013) Photographs by Vicki Polin

Music by Johnny Mathis - "Kol Nidre"

I want to thank rabbi Dovid Twersky for the wonderful escort service he provided to my friends and I while we drove through the Village of New Square back in November to insure our safety.

Prior to entering the town you will see a sign posted regarding the village ordnance's regarding modesty in one's attire. Also throughout the town you will see signs posted in Yiddish regarding which side of the street is for men and which side is for women. To the best of my knowledge, New Square is the only town in the United States with segregated sidewalks. I'm guessing the town found some sort of exemption to the civil rights movement?

While watching this video think about think about the civil rights movement, especially regarding both women and children.

FYI: It's important to note that there is only one road and out of Village New Square, NY. 

I was told by my tour guide that there are times the Village of New Square will block the road with a bus, to prevent people from coming in or leaving.

For more background information on New Square see below the following film clip:

Deb Tambor and the Quasi-Chasidic Town of New Square

© (2014) By Vicki Polin

The Awareness Center's Daily Newsletter - October 1, 2013

Rabbi David Twersky (Skvere Rebbe) and Deb Tambor Z"L

When you deal with a quasi-chasidic community that appears to be mimicking a cult, innocent people end up dying -- in the case of Deb Tambor I call this murder by suicide. 

Judaism is about each individuals relationship with G-d, and not the power and control various rabbonim seem to be implementing over their congregants and or community members. From the experiences shared with me from various individuals (OTD survivors) who walked away from communities like New Square, they left in hopes of being able to experience "Free Will". 

I've never seen so many young people feeling trapped within a system in which they felt they had no alternative but to end their lives. With the number of suicides coming out of New Square along with a few other quasi-chasidic communities, I fear the number of deaths will surpass the number of those who died in Jonestown. I pray to G-d all the time that the federal goverment will start investigating the "alleged" corruption that is going on in this town –– in hopes of preventing one more person ends up committing suicide. 

I want to remind everyone who is feeling hopeless or trapped that there is help available to you. You can always call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255.