Have you ever seen a Hasidic Jew in a convertible? I didn’t leave because I wanted a convertible, but I wanted the freedom to go and get one if I so desired.
A big part of why I left ultra-Orthodoxy was my desire for freedom. I’m a curious guy and I need to try everything. I wanted to go on road trips, wear orange slippers, cut my hair, try stuff! I also wanted the freedom to think and question.
To people who have grown up in the secular world, these are choices that you likely take for granted. But for someone who has grown up in the ultra-Orthodox world, these are profound freedoms. The ability to think freely and express yourself and feel what you want without fear of being punished ‘“ this is incredible.
Of course, the price of freedom is high. When you start out, it’s difficult. I lived in complete poverty, I was homeless, I had no friends, and sometimes no food. I lost my family.
But I discovered people to fill the void. I made new friends and found new people who love me. And, of course, I found Footsteps, an organization created and run by people who care. They let me know that I was free and no matter what choices I made, they would be there for me.
Today, I am pursuing an acting career. Perhaps you have even seen me on Amazon in ‘œTransparent,’ on the stage in ‘œRhinoceros,’ or on screen in the award-winning ‘œFelix and Meira‘ for which I won Best Actor at the 2014 Torino and Amiens International Film Festivals.
That’s the kind of freedom I was searching for.
Learn more about Luzer at luzertwersky.net.
