In my previous post, I highlighted the psychological harm that Footsteps members are exposed to. I would like to comment on a second point: the disingenuousness of the organization. They present themselves as a religiously neutral organization. They claim to assist a very vulnerable population via providing educational, social and financial services for those who were pushed out of Orthodoxy. This type of thinking can be found in this thread, in conversations with Orthodox lay people, and is also noted in the unconfirmed reports that they receive significant amount of funding from Modern Orthodox individuals.
While focusing on the contributions of Footsteps to some in our community is understandable, it is misguided and fails to consider the complete picture. I have had personal discussions with several individuals who have frequented Footsteps as well as read written accounts from an entire genre of books and articles written by those who have joined Footsteps. Please consider the following:
• Footsteps openly admits that they are not geared to service those who wish to remain chareidi, even those who experienced the same trauma and require the same services. At the same time, they open their arms to those who wish to achieve freedom of determination who admit that they have not experienced anything negative with their families of origin or Judaism. In fact, a growing segment of Footsteps members are Modern Orthodox whose primary stated purpose of joining are theological difficulties with Orthodoxy (e.g., feminism).
• I have heard from several who have personally experienced the Footsteps culture that the tone of participants is both anti-G-d and anti-religion. Attendees have shared with me that they felt there was an unspoken but not so subtle agenda to encourage participants to no longer be religious. I am aware of at least two episodes where members have taken heat for expressing a belief in G-d. These type of sentiments are unwelcome there and all are influenced by this. Considering that according to a recent Harris poll, 74% of Americans believe in G-d, this is an extreme viewpoint, but is mainstream within Footsteps culture. Please note that this may, in fact, may not be “official” policy and may not represent the personal beliefs of organizational leaders, but it is the reality on a practical level. Certain members become community leaders due to various reasons and, for all practical purposes, they set the tone for the Footsteps culture.
• While the program officially claims to have no agenda regarding people’s religiosity, the board members are all formerly Orthodox and now no longer religious, the staff is not religious, many if not most of their events take place on Shabbos and at non-kosher establishments (caveat: someone recently informed me that they recently hired some Orthodox staff).
• Footsteps board members, senior staff, and membership are formerly Orthodox with emotional histories of their own related to religion and Orthodoxy. Can they honestly say that they are neutral with regard to religion? Their decisions, based on backgrounds of abuse and trauma, may be understandable. However, too often, these negative experiences have shaped their views on Judaism. One can pretend to be neutral in brochures or videos, but in real-life this outward neutrality is often accompanied by a subtle agenda to uproot that which has ostensibly caused them pain.
Considering the above, it is obviously an organization primarily dedicated to assisting individuals to leave Orthodoxy and religion. I don’t judge anyone for their views, especially views influenced by traumatic backgrounds, but I do think that it is dishonest to publicly claim religious neutrality, while anyone exposed to Footsteps culture knows that this is laughable.
In my opinion if the raison d’être of this organization is to facilitate leaving a Halachic lifestyle via providing various types of support, it is a Chilul Hashem to assist them, praise them, or collaborate with them in any way. This is the true even if the behavior of some of its members is understandable. We in the Orthodox community needs to be very careful before conferring even tacit approval of any aspect of Footsteps.
Chaim Neuhoff, PhD.