Hush is one of the dozen or so books I read for the James Cook Award committee this year. And it is one that really stayed with me. It is the story of a closed religious community and it's failure to face the reality of sexual abuse. Gittel lives with her loving family in a Brooklyn Chassidic, (ultra-orthodox Jewish) community. They have almost no contact with anyone outside their little world. Yiddish is spoken first, English second. They attend their own schools, read their own magazines, have no television, listen to no secular radio. Girls attend school until it is time for their arranged marriage at 18. After marriage women wear wigs or scarves so that their hair will not be exposed to the view of anyone but their husbands. Boys attend Yeshiva school focusing on studying the sacred text, the Talmud, at the expense of science and mathematics. The story moves back and forth between today and 2003 when Gittel's her best friend, Devory was sexually abused by her own brother. Gittel is a witness though she really doesn't understand what she has seen (of course sex education is confined to a lesson before marriage). Devory hangs herself and Gittel is told by all the adults to not discuss what has happened, to forget. Her parents also tell her to forget. Accusing someone of sexual abuse in this community comes back on the accuser. Since there is no sexual abuse in the community, it didn't happen and the accuser must be lying. It is as if Devory never existed. But Gittel can't forget.
This is a really intense book. What makes it so powerful is the truth that is told. The author's name is given as "Eishes Chayil". This is a pseudonym meaning virtuous wife. In the author's note at the end of the book, the author explains that the book is based on her own life. She grew up in "the chosen Jewish nation" in Brooklyn. When she was young she watched her friend being molested, though she didn't really understand what she was seeing. A young boy in her community did hang himself. The author presents the joy and warmth of the ultra-Orthodox world while taking on its terrible inability to confront anything that goes against tradition and its deeply ingrained delusions.
This book is for older readers (gr.10-adult). Readers will learn a lot about life in a closed communities and parallels to other cultures are abundant. Plenty to discuss with this book. I would introduce it to teens with the description I wrote in the first paragraph.
12 comments:
I think there was a news story a few days ago about a newspaper from such a community that erased Hilary Clinton from the now famous "situation room photo." I didn't read the entire article but I believe it said that it is considered inappropriate to have photographs of women. This book sounds incredibly interesting.
Rachel, I missed the story so looked it up. It was a Hasidic newspaper in Brooklyn, which doesn't publish photos of women! Such a shame that women can be so de-valued, even in the U.S. And another book for my list!
What a powerful book and message! I find the stories that come out of these closed communities fascinating. I also agree with Vanessa's comment about women. Add this one to the list, as well!
Looks like an extremely heavy read with a message that most students don't have to encounter on a regular basis, but need to understand that it goes on. So sad what Rachel and Vanessa found in the news, I had not heard that but makes me sick to hear.
So many parallels to other extremist religious groups who believe that they are the only ones who know the right way to live and believe.
And the horrible results of ignoring problems. Even the Catholic Church is paying dearly for many years of denying sexual abuse by clergy...
This book seems very similar to a few books I read about Morman communities and the issues they try to hide. Most students will have little experience with these types of situations and it will open their eyes to how even in the US things like this happen.
What an eye opener to students. Probably more students deal with sexual abuse than we would think. This is a good book to open students eyes of things that do happen in this "so called" perfect world.
This sounds very interesting and heavy. It's eye-opening that a community that treats women in such a way can be found in modern-day America! I'll add this one to my list.
It's mind-boggling to know that these communities really do exist! I will have to put this on my "summer read" list!
I think that many students would find it incredible that these closed communities still exist right here in the U.S. I read "Rumspringa" not long ago and was floored by the rules and ideas but also by the strength it takes to live seperate like that. Sounds like a great book!
Kaelin - I agree about the parallels to Mormon communities.
I am in the process of tracking this one down. Sounds like it might be good for my book group.
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