“One of Us” is a documentary feature film that explores the realities of what it’s like to be a former Hasidic Jew. It is simultaneously perplexing, compelling, and eerie. This is because it includes first-person testimonies from three of these people in addition to archive material, which serves to emphasise the violence and exclusion they have endured over the years. Therefore, we have the information you need if you just want to know more about them, with an emphasis on their unique experiences and potential whereabouts right now.
Ari Hershkowitz is Thriving as an Entrepreneur Today
Ari (or Arye) was born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the second of nine children into an Ultra-Orthodox Hasidic Jewish family. However, he realised very early on that this wasn’t the life he wanted for himself. After all, at eight years old, an older guy is said to have raped him repeatedly in a synagogue, and at twelve, three people allegedly exploited him once more in a summer camp in Napanoch. A few individuals had reportedly seen these instances, but no one spoke out for him because there is an unspoken community code not to discuss or report such problems, which set off a downward cycle.
In actuality, Ari engaged in all of it for years, whether it was covertly visiting internet cafes to learn English and the ways of the outside world or abusing drugs, alcohol, and self-harm. He experimented with a variety of drugs, including cocaine, ketamine, amphetamine, weed, and ecstasy, until he overdosed, was ejected, and discovered the non-profit Footsteps in New York. They truly assisted him in getting clean and back on his feet, which made him realise he could utilise his experience to benefit others and put his mind to better use than just causing mayhem.
As a result, Ari has developed into a culturally Jewish atheist, public speaker, outdoor enthusiast, education advocate, and technology entrepreneur with some help from his family. As the CEO of T-LON Technologies Inc., the travel, science, and biohacking enthusiast actually creates custom PCs for individual users, installs office technology infrastructure for enterprises, provides remote support, and provides trustworthy assistance. In addition, the New Yorker is actively working with YAFEED, a non-profit, to spread awareness of the inadequate curriculum found in ultra-Orthodox institutions, all the while concentrating on his relationship with longtime companion Sarah.
Luzer Twersky is Exploring Opportunities in the Entertainment World
If there’s one thing that nobody can dispute, it’s that Luzer’s life has been nothing less than a wild ride because of his innate difficulties with faith and the years that followed, which were incredibly dramatic. In actuality, he left the Brooklyn Hasidic community in 2008 after coming to the realisation that he didn’t actually believe in God all that much. Shortly after, he met fashion designer Duncan Quinn and found himself employed by him as a model and store manager. That’s how the young actor progressively gained experience in acting, landing his first professional role in “Romeo and Juliet in Yiddish” in 2010 and going on to land his first main role in “Where Is Joel Baum?” two years later.
Since then, Luzer has excelled in a number of productions, including “Castles in the Sky,” “The Great Darkened Days,” and “Holy Woman.” She also had a recurring role in the 2015 television series “Transparent,” made an appearance in the second season of HBO’s “High Maintenance” in 2018, and more. Although he appears to be experimenting with narration these days, his most recent credit was as Ben, the protagonist, in the 2022 feature film “Not Quite Kosher,” written and directed by Stefan Sarazin and Peter Keller. Put another way, Luzer is currently establishing himself in the entertainment sector, and he appears resolute in removing any obstacles from his path.
Etty Ausch is Leading a Private Life Today
Last but certainly not least is Etty, who, despite having seven small children with her husband, breaks away from both ultra-orthodox Judaism and her husband. It actually details their acrimonious custody dispute, including how the Hasidic community effectively came together to stalk and intimidate her, even going so far as to fundraise for the legal fees of her former spouse. She has stated unequivocally that the treatment she received from men in this community, particularly her spouse, is the main reason she left; they made it extremely difficult for her to even identify as a lesbian.
It is important to mention that Etty is now happily out and living in New Haven, Connecticut, with her girlfriend, Sarah, whom she met at a Jewish LGBTQ+ women’s conference. Regarding other areas of her life, we do know she has career goals, even if it’s unclear if she was successful in getting back custody of her seven children because she likes to keep such information private. In order to change the world, Etty truly wants to enrol in a reputable four-year university, pursue a legal degree, and work as a legal champion for underrepresented groups. You can support her aspirations by making a donation to her educational fund here.
