The Devil of Williamsburg

by Allison Yarrow

The Devil of Williamsburg is a fast-paced true crime story about one of the most shocking and important child sex abuse cases in recent memory, which unfolded mere blocks from the hipster capital of the world, but eras away, in ultra-Orthodox Jewish Williamsburg, Brooklyn. There, an insular community of Satmar Hasidim shirk the Internet, the president and the rules of secular America, even hiding crimes within the community from police and the courts. The narrative centers on two women—the traditional heroine, a young and beautiful newlywed, who challenged her community's rules and her abuser's many supporters to throw him behind bars, and the abuser’s wife, who continues to stand beside her husband and profess his innocence. Convicted sex abuser Nechemya Weberman's 103-year sentence was a record for a Hasidic man in a Brooklyn court and a victory for Brooklyn’s longtime district attorney, who had been accused of cowtowing to religious leaders. The story also provides a rare glimpse into the cloistered Satmar Hasidic community, which claims to be the world's largest ultra-Orthodox group with 150,000 followers worldwide. Cover designed by Evan Twohy.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime

47 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 6, 2013

About the author

Allison Yarrow is an award-winning journalist and National Magazine Award finalist who has written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, Vox, and many others. She was a TED resident and is a grantee of the International Women’s Media Foundation. She produced the VICE documentary Misconception and has appeared on the Today show, MSNBC, NPR, and more. Yarrow was raised in Macon, Georgia, and lives in Brooklyn, New York. (From the author's website)

Reviews

[Stacey B]

There is no excuse- none- for this to happen, period.
There is a similar book written about the Olympic female athletes in 2016.
I wrote a review after following the story closely. I repeat my ending below...

I wish I were a fly on the wall to see the reaction "he" would have if this
happened to his own daughter.

[Eli Mandel]

Having followed this trial closely and already being aware of most of the pertinent details, I didn't learn much that I hadn't already known but what was refreshing was the way it was presented; chronologically, and with style.

[Janet Richards]

Another brave victim standing up to their controlling community. Nice synopsis of case I wasn't aware of before reading.

[Diane Wilkes]

Like most people in America who have been searching for engrossing television during this time of quarantine, I watched Unorthodox recently. I immediately bought the novel it was based on and, because I have long found the Hasidic faith interesting, I came across this article in a magazine by Yarrow on "The Devil of Williamsburg," a "spiritual counselor" who molested girls who were forced to work with him After reading the article, I decided to read this mini-book (I think it's only 47 pages).

I am glad it was available through the Kindle Unlimited program because otherwise even a buck would have been too much. The story is utterly fascinating but this is cobbled together (poorly) mostly from other people's articles. There was nothing in-depth or insightful about the coverage.

I hope one day someone does write an in-depth and insightful book about sexual abuse in the Hasidic communities. This ain't it.

[Heather]

Repulsive.

It is absolutely disgusting that people are so blinded by their religious beliefs that they can a.) ignore child sexual abuse, b.) cover for the abusers and c.) villainize the victim.

Having read books like Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots, it's not a surprise that this community ostracizes those who leave and/or bring shame to the community because they're exposing the dirty secrets - but damn...how about we ostracize the people who cover up the abuses, send kids to these untrained "therapists"/spiritual advisers and more or less make the families pay for the privilege of abusing their children.

Boggles my mind.

That said, this is a quick read and very enlightening...in an appalling way.

[Elliot Chalom]

This was very interesting and I actually would have preferred a longer treatment. I have so many questions and believe that Yarrow could have done an expose on the entire Satmar sect. Or she could have written more about Rayna's family. 4 stars because it's such a fascinating story well-reported by Yarrow; not 5 because there's so much more story to tell. Could have - should have - been another Cut Me Loose: Sin and Salvation After My Ultra-Orthodox Girlhood.

[Harley]

tw sexual abuse

[Phyllis Marcus]

My obsession with ultra-Orthodox Judaism continued with this Kindle Single, about a high profile, virtually unique prosecution of a so-called counselor who repeatedly molested young girls in the Satmar community. A heartbreaking read, but the victim's courage was astoundingly firm. What a shonda, as my grandmother would have said.

[Melissa Becker]

This short true crime story brings the reader into a community that is rarely seen. Like many stories of child abuse, insular communities and unblinking respect for authority leads to nobody helping the victims. This is available on Kindle Unlimited and is recommended for people who are fans of true crime or shows like are on the ID channel.

[Cristina S]

Brutal and thorough.