I am in the middle of writing a book about sexual abuse in the frum community. As you could imagine, my list of required reading for this book is tough. Some books I read in parts slowly over time, some I read in one sitting, and some I listen to on audio.

A few months back, I had just finished listening to Dassi Erlich narrate her own book, “In Bad Faith,” on Audible. I had known her and her sister’s horrific story and followed the saga of the infamous Malka Leifer for many, too many, years. But while listening to her painfully reading out every word of every chapter, I realized I actually hadn’t known the story at all.

There were many shocking moments in this book. I absolutely loved her writing, her honesty, her authenticity, her vulnerability, and I loved everything about this book, besides the actual content, of course.

One of the things I had heard about the story (this was years ago) was that Leifer — and I’m just assuming you already know the story — was a part of the Ger chasidic dynasty. If you know anything about me, then you know that I know a lot about a few chasidic sects, including Belz, Slonim, Square, Amshenov, and Breslov, just to name a few. But I also know a thing or two about Ger chasidim from when I worked in Se’each Sod for three years. Se’each Sod was founded by a very special man named R’ Dov Levy a”h, and although he has passed, his sons, family, and his community have built the empire that Se’each Sod is today. I also knew that the former health minister, Yaakov Litzman, was a Ger chasid, which I am sure didn’t hurt the ferocious speed of Se’each Sod’s growth over the last two decades.

Somewhere along the way of following the sick Leifer saga, I heard that Litzman had assisted Leifer in numerous ways to escape........

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