Prompt Cast
Internet's impact on a Hasidic man's life in Brooklyn
TLDR The internet leads Shulam, a member of the Hasidic community in Brooklyn, to explore a different version of Judaism, venture into forbidden territory, and ultimately get expelled from his community, causing a divide between him and his children.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
This is a story of the internet destroying someone's life completely and transforming someone's life for the better, all happening to the same person in a Hasidic community in Brooklyn.
03:33
Shulam, a member of the Hasidic community, becomes fascinated with the internet after buying a computer and exploring AOL chat rooms, leading him to discover a different version of Judaism and venture into forbidden territory.
07:24
Shulam becomes increasingly fascinated with the secular world, venturing into public libraries, watching movies, and even buying his own TV, all while constantly worrying about being caught by his community.
10:58
Enforcement of rules in New Square is strict but informal, with neighbors being responsible for keeping each other in line, and a volunteer organization called the Modesty Committee may break into your home to confiscate forbidden items like TVs.
14:46
Shulam Dean started a blog called shulamdeen.blogspot.com to express his frustrations about the laws of Sabbath in Orthodox Jewish communities, which gained attention from the outside world and caused people in his community to notice something was off about him.
18:44
Shulam Dean's behavior continued to deteriorate, leading to a confrontation with rabbis and village elders who ordered him to leave his community and sell his house.
22:13
Shulam Dean, who hasn't seen his kids in seven years, keeps tabs on them through secret photos taken by friends in his community, and recently watched his eldest daughter get married through these photos.
25:54
Shulam Dean believes that his children will eventually join him on his side, despite being trapped on opposite sides of the chasm due to their conflicting beliefs.
Categories:
Technology
Society & Culture
