The Adventures of Frimcha and Elky

The Daily News revisits the strange case of Frimcha Hirsch and Elky Stern, two 16 year-old Hasidic girls who ran away from their strict religious enclave in Brooklyn to...Phoenix. The DN notes that as soon as they got on a bus at the Port Authority, they " shed their traditional long skirts and long-sleeved blouses; they ate at non-Kosher restaurants, listened to rock music on their portable CD players, sat and slept among their fellow passengers, men and women." When in Phoenix, they lived in one of the most dangerous areas of the city, managing to get by, but they were armed, as the police later found a dagger and knife in their belongings when they returned to NY. The girls only returned earlier this month, after their parents and local authorities thought they might have been kidnapped.

Stern and Hirsch have not been living with their parents, as it's been rough for both parties. A rabbi who has been consulting with both parents and children says, "Listening to rock 'n' roll music or watching TV for a Hasidic kid is like your parents watching you take your first cocaine. It's hard for the outside world to understand this." And in very reassuring news to Gothamist, Hirsch's mother told reporters, "We were told by the therapist to tell her we love her and be accepting. To start fresh."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on September 29, 2003 9:56 AM

Comments [rss]

forced sex

Your article make interes to the problem.s

Rina A

I went to school with Frimcha for a while, the school is called "Monsey Academy for Girls". I wasnt there very long, but what I saw of Frimcha was quite disturbing. She seems very sad and lonley, and she doesnt talk much. I was in the dorm, and she lives with a family. As for Elky, I'm going to school with her next year. Monsey Academy eventually threw me out, and my parents sent me to Israel. The school is called "Tzofiah". I spoke to someone that knows her and he said that now she dresses in black and is all gothic.

Judd

Frumcha is in a yeshiva In NY (according to my friend who was in her class), and Elky goes to a school in Ramat Beit-Shemesh,Israel(Tzofiah). I had the honor of Elky telling her story in my home. If anybody wants a little more details E-mail me at thextreme_5@hotmail.com

alex

where are this girls now ?

alex

where are this girls now ?

easysurf

Free the Borough Park Two!

Borough Park Two (Elky Stern and Frimcha Hirsch) are being reindoctrinated (brain-washed) by an ultra-Orthodox Jewish group.

see:

http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=8512

cindy

firstly what is hot about these girls??

sad what happened to them however being a basic hasidic person they don't need to be unhappy to run off. besides how many runaways and criminals do you find in the gentile world where they have all freedom??? perfect oppurtunity to badmouth others

Reuven Aharon

Y'know, Orthodox Jews are much too talkative for their own good... must be their habit of observing Shabbat by not writing or doing anything....

Eric

Ya, they are actually kinda hott....

Eric

Ya, they are actually kinda hott....

uh oh uh oh uh oh

Anyone have any ideas what the "mutilated" dolls are all about?

Jen

The "first cocaine" quote from the rabbi was brilliant to me.

As for casting, I think it'd be funny if they cast two gentile girls, like Amanda Bynes and Hilary Duff, in the Disney version of the movie. Or the Olsen twins! Who also discover they are twins even though they live across the street - they have never really seen each other because they are so cloistered!

uh oh

At first glance, (and I mean no harm here and have no intention of trying to get into a vitriolic neo-con flame war) I actually thought those pictures were of Elizabeth Spiers back in middle school.

tien

"rebellious behavior, such as extreme alcohol and drug use, imitating urban gangs, and promiscuous sex." that's not that different from "normal" kids, is it?

larry dvm

The Amish custom you're referring to is rumspringa, and it's not reserved for boys. Also, I don't think it's something to emulate in any religion or community, as many Amish kids find themselves engaged in destructive, rebellious behavior, such as extreme alcohol and drug use, imitating urban gangs, and promiscuous sex. Also, kids who do not return to the church are shunned and left without support structures to get mainstreamed. "No repurcussions" if you remain Amish, but severe repurcussions if you stray--a tough spot to be in after a year without guidance, consequences, or stability.

the great hascape

So what's the allure of Phoenix, Arizona? Calfornia recall candidates keep citing its laid-back business regulations (i.e., low corporate taxes, lousy workers comp) but what would two young girls from Brooklyn see in the place? If you're heading west, then Vegas, San Fran, Tijiuana, okay -- but Pheonix? Maybe these girls really are all mishegas, or maybe they were getting ready to start a small business. Hello Kitty Deli!

jake

is it just me, or are these girls kind of hot?

tien

what i want to see is a picture of what they looked like when they returned after listening to rock n roll, ate non-kosher food, and got tans in the arizona sun.

eebmore

The amish only give that freedom to the boys.

dahl

One of the reasons I respect the Amish is that they let their kids have a year or so to use electricity, drink, do whatever they want basically, and at the end of the time period, if they want to stay Amish, they can return without any reprecussions. Don't ever get a choice like that with Orthodoxy...

callalillie

Good for them. Though I try to respect all faiths equally, I have a lot of issues with raising children within a religion and not giving them any choice in the matter. I think it's sad that these children felt that they needed to run away in order to experience life.

eebmore

any news on the imaginary movie starring natasha lyonne and natalie portman? I just reread the comments on the original post and saw that some "anonymous" commenter took offence of mine and other's shallow hollywood musings.