The Dark side of My ULTRA ORTHODOX Childhood in Jerusalem

About this episode

Shalom Shore discusses his experiences growing up in a strict ultra-Orthodox Jewish environment in Jerusalem and the impact it had on his identity and beliefs.

Shalom Shore grew up in a strict ultra-Orthodox Jewish environment in Jerusalem connected to the organization Aish HaTorah, dedicated to its mission of bringing secular Jews back to strict religious observance. As the oldest of nine children, Shalom grew up in a household that appeared ideal, but was marked by emotional neglect, financial stress, and a constant focus on religious outreach. Shalom’s childhood and education were dominated by intense religious indoctrination. He attended a strict ultra-Orthodox school 365 days a year, where boys studied religious texts from early morning until late at night, with little secular education and frequent physical punishment from teachers. The rigid environment, lack of emotional support, and strict moral expectations led to anxiety, obsessive religious guilt, and deep internal conflict, particularly around sexuality and personal identity. The community’s teachings pushed him toward early marriage as a supposed solution to normal sexual urges and loneliness. He then became a Rabbi and eventually left it all behind.  Click here to watch on YouTube Watch our follow up LIVE with Shalom Watch our recent panel with 4 Former Ultra…

People in this episode

Host: Shelise Ann Sola

Guest: Shalom Shore

Topics covered

• ultra-Orthodox Judaism
• religious indoctrination
• childhood trauma
• identity conflict
• sexuality
• religious guilt

Keywords

• ultra-Orthodox
• Jerusalem
• religious upbringing
• emotional neglect
• anxiety
• Rabbi
• early marriage
• religious outreach

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Aish HaTorah, Beyond Belief: Tales of Religious Exodus, freidomfighter.com, navyahypnosis.com

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