We see Hasidic women in Hollywood all the time, but far too often they are negative and over the top fictional portrayals. Many real-life Hasidic women, especially in more insular sects like Satmar, have no idea what Hollywood is. But then there are women like Bylu Wertheimer. Wertheimer first attended and then taught in Satmar girls’ schools before […]
Understanding the Dress Codes of Orthodox Jewish Women and Their Diverse Interpretations One of the most talked-about aspects of the show Unorthodox is the clothing, which shapes lead character Esty’s story from beginning to end. The show’s costume designer Justine Seymour spent hours on meticulous research, including a week-long stint within the Satmar community in […]
Coronavirus has taken a toll the world over, from death, to illness, to economic upheaval, to job loss, to mental health challenges. There is almost no one who has not felt its negative effects. In a time when everyone is desperate for good news, some Satmar Hasidim in Blooming Grove, a small village in upstate […]
Dear Jew in the City, Do Orthodox Jews Have Arranged Marriages? Does Jewish law allow this? Thank you, Alex Dear Alex – First, another question: What does “arranged marriage” mean? For that matter, what does “allowed” mean? Let’s assume “arranged marriage” doesn’t just mean a blind date. Does it mean two sets of parents agree […]
Her children took different paths, and she loves them all unconditionally! Again and again in the media and at Makom, we hear of the parents who disown their kids for leaving Judaism or even choosing a different Jewish path. We never hear from the parents who do whatever they can to show their kids they […]
Makom member, Nechuma Schweitzer, has seen both sides – how Orthodox Judaism can be painful and abusive and how much love and healing is possible when you are connected to healthy approaches and people. She joins me to discuss her perspective and experience as it relates to “Unorthodox.”
