However, Judaica stores will reinforce the wall of silence because they are afraid of public opinion. But I want to buy it from the place where it should be selling. Wrong but ironically inevitable, because of the very wall of silence portrayed in the book. It is currently only selling in non-Jewish book stores. The book was published at a secular imprint. It is a discrete volume, easily passed along, easily hidden, and easily discussed at gatherings where it’s appropriate. That is why a novel is such a good format. That said, I am not a big fan of indiscriminate publicization. Which is why, perhaps, it’s time we stood up for the right path. However, when the choice is between dealing with it not-so-quietly, or quietly not dealing with it, all too often the latter path is chosen. Yes, this matter is best dealt with quietly. Perpetrators are not afraid, because they know they are protected by the wall of silence. Right now, there is almost no punishment for molestation in our community. Its existence creates more harm than its absence would. A wall built of good intentions - of modesty and of aversion to scandal - but which punishes the victim and protects the perpetrator. Rather, it’s about the wall of delicate silence that we build around the issue. If you’re looking for horrifying rape scenes or even the word “sex,” don’t look here. Hush is not about sexual abuse in the ultra-orthodox community.

The book is a beautiful combination of humor and pathos. If everyone who took issue with the orthodox community wrote with the gentle, self-conscious irony of this author, the world would be a better place (and the Yated would not be worth reading).

If such can be said about excerpts: they were taken out of context. Thank goodness for indifferent New Yorkers. It seemed to portray ultra-orthodox society at its worst with no explanation or redeeming qualities.īut I mentioned it to Little Sheep, who bought it and lent it to me, which was how I found myself crying on the F train. When I read Curious Jew’s excerpts from Hush, by Eishes Chayil, I immediately disliked the book.

Hush by Eishes Chayil