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The wedding panners of Stamford Hill

BBC documentary attacked

May 26, 2011 12:53
Maverick Chasid Avi Bresler

By

Robyn Rosen,

Robyn Rosen

1 min read

A strictly Orthodox man featured in a BBC documentary about Chasidic weddings has been ostracised by his synagogue congregation.

Members of the Stamford Hill community have widely condemned last week's programme, Wonderland: A Hasidic Guide to Love, Marriage and Finding a Bride. The BBC received eight complaints about the film which was watched by 1.3 million people last Wednesday. It featured Avi Bresler, who had served four-and-a-half years in prison for money-laundering, and the outspoken Gabi and Tikwah Lock, who have been married for 40 years.

On Sunday, Mr Lock was asked to leave by senior members of the Satmar Synagogue in Clapton Common during their Lag B'Omer celebrations.

David Lefkowitz, a synagogue member, said: "The senior members felt it was inappropriate for him to be in the synagogue after what he did on the programme.