Yetzia bish'eila

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Yetzia bish'eila (Hebrew יְצִיאָה בִשְׁאֵלָה, "leaving with a question") is the Israeli term for leaving a religion, usually Judaism, to lead a secular life-style. It is sometimes also called chazara bish'ela ("return with a question"); both terms are puns on chazara bit'shuva (literally "return with repentance", the word for repentance being the same as the word for answer), which refers to the opposite act: becoming religious.

Many yotze'im bish'eila — the ones who leaves their religion — face ostracism from their original community. In addition, many are unprepared for life in the "outside world".

Famous yotz'im bish'ela include Elisha ben Abuyah, Baruch Spinoza, Sholom Aleichem, and Mendele Mocher Sforim.

[edit] See also

• Apostasy
• Baal teshuva