Home › Forums › Controversial Topics › Discrimination Against Baalei Teshuva › Reply To: Discrimination Against Baalei Teshuva
Warning: Here comes a megilla.
How a BT adjusts ultimately depends on how well you integrate into the community, and that depends on your willingness to take on customs that may not make sense to you, but are the norm in your neighborhood. Most BTs who did not adopt social norms have difficulty with their children integrating as well.
BTs tend to be more thought out than FFBs. This is a good thing, in my humble opinion. For example, BT parents are more willing to send a kid to therapy or use medication if needed. They are more honest about their own faults and open to growth.
However, they need to understand that there is a mild stigma for shidduchim, and not tell their neighbors/friends/coworkers about it. Or they like dressing their little ones in flowery dresses, but everyone else in the preschool is wearing striped jumpers. Or they insist on flouting a school rule that doesn’t make sense to them.
Becoming Orthodox isn’t just about keeping Mitzvos, although that’s the major part of it. It’s also becoming a member of a community, with all the responsibilities, annoyances, and trusting the leadership that that entails. You need to have a Rabbi and be realistic about who you are, where you are growing, and what your children need.
Most BTs and children of BTs with whom I am familiar are indistinguishable from FFBs. They don’t talk about their past unless it is relevant, and are focused on serving Hashem and personal growth. I deeply admire them and would love to be like that.
If you integrate well, you don’t really worry about discrimination, as you realize that any school that won’t accept your children (after you apply appropriate Rabbinical pressure, using your networking to its fullest), probably isn’t the school for you.
You realize that shidduchim are bashert.
Anyone foolish enough to turn down your sweet, beautiful, bright, active, Torah-valuing, Mitzva-doing daughter because you are a BT is not worthy of her, and there are plenty of families in the same situation who will be happy to marry with yours.
Hashem says that in the place where a BT stands, a completely righteous person cannot stand. Hashem loves you, and will help you get to the position you need in life.
All the best,
Torah613^2