NEW YORK
The Journal News
Adrienne Sanders, asanders@lohud.com August 17, 2016
This article is staff writer Adrienne Sanders’ latest in an ongoing series that looks at the East Ramapo school district with its unique blend of private and public schools.
NEW SQUARE – Each year, when registering their children for private school, parents in the all-Hasidic village of New Square must agree in writing to follow a detailed list of very specific rules — or risk the expulsion of their children from the only school in town.
For example, mothers are banned from driving, and they must shave their heads and wear only clothing that extends at least 5 or 6 inches below the knee. The far more abbreviated list of rules for fathers requires them to pray regularly with a quorum and refrain from cutting their beards.
This fall, however, New Square authorities introduced several new rules that reflect the community’s fears about the dangers of the Internet. The changes have renewed critics’ condemnation of the Skverer sect’s attempts to control its followers — particularly women.
The new rules include:
* Mothers are prohibited from using smartphones — even for business purposes.
* Mothers and fathers must cease using WhatsApp, a popular smartphone messaging application.
* As announced last month on a large flier taped to the village’s synagogue wall — no one may use cellphones without web filters.
Authorities posted the notice after it was discovered that some adults were keeping second, unfiltered phones in addition to their approved “kosher” ones.
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