Footsteps Leads to a New Direction

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Foundation Beyond Belief’s current Human Rights Beneficiary, Footsteps, is a unique entry into the rolls of beneficiaries FBB has featured. Footsteps is the only organization in North America dedicated to offering support to men and women leaving the Orthodox Jewish community.

While the organization focuses on a specific community, the programs it offers and the way the organization is designed make it a model for supportive organizations both in and out of the religious realm.

People coming to Footsteps may be in one of four identified stages of transition from Orthodox to mainstream society. Stories on the Footsteps site give many reasons a person may leave the Orthodox community – from seeking higher education, to seeking safety after arranged marriages, to a discovering one’s true self.

Each of the stories feature similar themes of loss – of a lack of community and family following the transition and of fear and loneliness. That is where Footsteps comes in.

Like most support organizations, Footsteps offers resources and programs for individuals at any stage. The ultimate goal is for members and individuals who have made more progress in their journey to reach out to help those beginning their journey with mentorship, workshops and even creating programming.

The programs Footsteps organizes for members focus on a few major categories of support. Community building programs (everything from parties to pick-up games) have become the main focus as most new members state this is where their greatest needs lie.

Other support programs include peer and emotional support, such as supportive counseling, relationship counseling and drop-in groups around their New York location. Education and career programs are also critical, as many new members may have had little secular education, yet college and more career options are often goals of those seeking transition.

Those who approach Footsteps have often left behind everything they’ve ever known, including their friends, family, and community. Footsteps helps them find new tools for living, and excelling in a vast new community where they can thrive in the traditional world.