Malkie Schwartz - From Fundy to Freedom Fighter
Divorced: Ultra-orthodox Judaism

In her early 20s, Malkie Schwartz chose to leave her ultra-orthodox Jewish community. Within 3 years, she founded Footsteps, the first organization in North America to help people who wish to leave the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community and live in mainstream society. Footsteps gained notoriety in 2017, with the release of the Netflix documentary “One of Us.” To date, Footsteps has served over 1300 individuals.

Malkie is also co-founder and board member of the Rights and Religions Forum. In 2023, the Rights and Religions Forum (RARF) launched the Borgenicht Fellowship Program for Community Leaders. This first-of-its-kind program connects a diverse cohort of leaders who are challenging religious oppression and supporting the ability of individuals raised in insular religious groups to make personal choices and lead lives that reflect their personal values and beliefs.

I met Malkie when a Footsteps representative reached out to me in 2021 interested in sending a Footsteps contingent to the inaugural Conference on Religious Trauma (CORT), and today I am proud to be a Borgenicht Fellow.

In this episode, Malkie shares about leaving her insular community, why she started Footsteps, and the importance of groups like RARF, who rely on generous donations to provide support for others who are Divorcing Religion.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:
https://rarforum.org/
https://www.footstepsorg.org/
Janice's Best-selling book Divorcing Religion: A Memoir and Survival Handbook is now available in
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