Lets not forget about the many less observant Jews that help fund many of the major institutions inside Haredi communities. My family, while pretty secular, regularly donates to a local Yeshiva and Kollel. Judaism teaches that people who help fund the study of Torah get a share in the merit of that study. Shana Tova to all, may you all have a happy and healthy year!

I think the pandemic and economic crisis have taught people the importance of multiple streams of income, unfortunately having a job doesn't mean financial security. I really appreciate the transparency and giving people a fighting chance during this troubling times.

Freeda, I know you left the community and as much as it hurts...I still wanna commend you on a fair view of our life. You dont mix your personal animus , if any...with the truth and for that I tip my hat to you. I watched your interview with Peri Engelman, a relative of mine and it gave me great joy to see how respectful you were and how fair and unbiased you were and simply asked the relevant questions in a neutral way to educate the public. Thank you for your fair unbiased portrayal of your people, in spite of your personal choices to live life apart from it. Blessings for a sweet year and enlightenment to the truth of Torah and mitzvos! G' mar Chasima Tova.

My heart goes out to all the secular teachers in Williamsburg. I tried it. Difficult, but rewarding. Great job reporting on Williamsburg. The best part of America!

About a year ago, I heard my dad, who's Jewish, say that the Hasidim just study all day and didn't work. Having lived in a Hasidic neighborhood for about two years, I was like: are you kidding me? Do you think they can have eight kids and buy apartments in Brooklyn with welfare checks and food stamps? And then I pretty much had the conversation you described in this video. It's a maddeningly illogical misconception! Thanks for putting this together!

Frieda, we are so thankful to Hashem for creating you so talented and so intelligent with kindness to it, as nobody has so far spread this word about the Hasidic Jewish community in-house business trading in such a genuine and authentic way with such a positive vision about them, On a side note, I strongly believe that now after your video came out, a lot of Hasidic Jews who have not made it yet to the top of the ladder will now get inspired by you and roll up their sleeves and try to climb up the success ladder, 📈📈📊📊

Very well put. A few additions though: 1) The Kosher food industry also reaches way beyond the Hasidic community, not just to more mainstream Jews but also there are non jews that prefer Kosher food for safety reasons. 2) Unlike in the secular world where rich people move away into rich gated communities, and spend their money on yachts and expensive cars or rolex watches, Hasidic rich people stay in the community and rather spend their money to help their brethren

Wow! This was such an informative and measured assessment of a very complicated and somewhat sensitive topic. Thank you Frida!

My family owned businesses in Williamburg and the Hasidic community is very close to our own. Although we are not Jewish, a lot of the food and influence extends beyond the inside community. Thank you for this video. It was very eye opening.

Very enlightening. I recently started patronizing a bakery in NYC that does online orders. They ship within 24 hours by FedEx. I was kind of surprised to find out that they were Hasidim when I researched them. I didn't even think they really used the internet. That shows you my ignorance of the situation.

I’ve never heard such a clear explanation of the community’s economy. You answered many of my questions and clarified the misinformation I’ve read through the years. Yes, I’m still working my way through your content. 😊

I'm glad you mentioned State Aid. I worked several years with NYC's social services division, and became aware of many Hasidic families receiving SNAP benefits (more commonly known as food stamps). I've always been curious about the Hasidic culture, and am enjoying these videos.

Amazing video! Glad to see someone cover Hasidism without bashing them. Keep it up!

I was involved in healthcare with this community for over 35 yrs and the amount of government entitlements going to their members is overwhelming I saw a large amount of poverty, poor educational outcomes and depression among the women .

Thank you, Frieda. I'm new to your channel but in just a few videos I have learned a lot. I am not Jewish and I have family members who live in Boro Park. Whenever we visit, I like to stay for several days and observe the rhythm and activities of the different days. The children playing, husbands and wives walking together with their little ones, the quiet of the Sabbath, the noise and activity of Sunday, when everyone seems to be out and about and some of the shops overflow onto the sidewalk. I always feel welcome and sometimes get to talk with some of the moms about their day. I hope to take your tour one day.

Great content and well-delivered! Thank you for the balanced opinion.

I am so glad you are sharing this because i was under the misconception that the woman took care of the children and worked while the husbands studied daily. Some of the negative films with abused woman showed that actually. I so respect the religion and their devotion to protecting their children and giving their family relationships top priority and protect this. You are a great asset to the Hasidic Jewish people.

Another great video, well put together, well informed and really interesting. Thank you

Another point that I think was missed here is they’re never really distracted by modern day technology till it’s absolutely necessary and I think that plays a huge roll.

Wonderfully imformative and thoughtfully presented! Thank you for posting.

This was so informative! Thanks, Frieda for sharing!

This is an excellent video. Articulate and pleasant to listen to. Thank you.

Thank you so much to inform us in such a direct honest way. From France with ❤.

Thank you for this video, I learned so much on the Hasidic community.

Awesome video, Frieda. You do a great service to the Hasidic community, and to the Jewish community at large. So glad to see the segment on B&H, which is the best place to buy a camera in New York. They really know their merchandise and are extremely helpful.

Thank you for educating us Frieda; I learned so much more! I had a Jewish roommate years ago, she was observant and shared with me some of the practice. Thank you again and Bless you!

Awesome Frieda. Great Job and very informative. Very close and knit community. God Bless to all His Children. Honesty and Respect ❤

I love and appreciate that although you (as far as I understood from this video) are no longer chassidish, you still present them in a respectful and positive light. Thank you ❤🙏

Frieda, thank you for the informative video. I grew up in a neighbourhood in London called Golders Green and I was always inquisitive about the Hasidic community.. I commend you for your eloquence and excellent research into this community. 💕🇦🇴🇬🇧

Thank you for sharing. We need more video as this one. It’s inspiring.

I just discovered your videos and I find them well done and informative. I grew up in NY but knew nothing about this community other than their existence. There are aspects of this life that are admirable and can be learned from. Thank you.

Im an outsider, but you are talking so clear, never heard such a voice

I was always thankful for these small Mom and Pop shops because they continue to see value in businesses that big corporations don't see a profit in. For example, we had a small printer on the block of a magazine I used to work for. We were there many times a week with our small and immediate jobs and they were carefully done. You'd never get that kind of service at Staples. Also, lovely specialty food stores with deli, tea and candy. Delicious and healthy! Can't be beat! 👍

This is a good and unbiased video. Just very matter of fact. Well done!

Thank you Frieda, very informative and answering many of my questions unknowingly.

Hi Frieda awesome information in this video thanks for putting together... After watching it I decided to subscribe to your channel for more. Have a good one.

Thanks @Freida very well put I would also recommend to make a video explaining the communities PTSD (of the משכילים and early American Jews) on everything related to religion and how this influences everything in the community from technology to education to the resistance of change and how outside attempts to change it are only reinforcing this idea and are actually making things worse instead of helping.

Thank you Your context is always full and informative ❤

That was really interesting - thanks for diving into this topic!

I think that the Hasidim set an example for even secular communities in how they focus on the small-scale, interpersonal work required to sustain a local community. Obviously not everyone will share their religious beliefs, but certainly even people living in a Liberal/Pluralist context can see how their intense dedication to Localism and to serving the most immediate needs of ones' neighbors can benefit everyone, and give us a degree of self-sustainability from the giant, global, impersonal machine of thoughtless production/consumption.

I grew up in Williamsburg Brooklyn I really enjoyed this video First video I watched from you and subscribed loved your content! One thing you left out is that many Hasidic Jews are in the construction industry

This is really informative and interesting. Clear. Concise. Excellent. Thanks / merci.

How awesome. An amazing community. My respect for Hassidim soared with this lovely video/tour!

I have worked for Hasidic for decades and their love for family and community is amazing.

👍👏😄I love the way she narrates, giving us a good understanding of the Hasidic Jew. Thank you

Thank you. We have a small Hasidic community here in Ormond Beach, Florida. My husband has asked me many times how the community supports itself. Since there is very little Kosher markets, businesses, etc. that we know of, I thought many work in Orlando and Jacksonville.

This is another world to me and I enjoyed learning about it, thank you!

You have no idea how long I've wondered about this. Thanks so much!

Happy to see this well done piece.... completely factual and not at all critical.

this video is amazingly articulate and clear.

It's amazing you're not only discussing their businesses but also their community. A unique one.

This video is very informative. I had always wondered about this. Thank you for giving me new insight. Your videos are thoughtful and you are very well-spoken.

Thank you for sharing your perspective. I love you all and hope you have a great day.

I enjoy watching your programs Frieda, but you know what we all want---*your* story

Frieda, Thank you. I have learned so much about Jewish orthodox life. Please keep them coming. God Bless, Maureen from Florida originally from Brooklyn

I just found your channel today and the first podcast I saw was with precious Pearl. She was talking about her son and I learned so much about Jewish life and culture. I hope you have her as a guest again soon. ❤

New subscriber. Great job Frieda. Gracias for your hard work, very informative

New to your channel and living near Lakewood NJ, I have had much contact with the community in my work as a nurse and as a nursing professor ( half of each of our accelerated BSN program is made up of both male and female Hasidic students--which requires a previous college degree and specific prerequisites. They have smart phones, iPads. They are very good, high achieving students) My interaction both professional and personal has been positive. I do see a movement of younger Hasidim interacting and choosing professions in the secular community. Area hospitals in which I worked has many Orthodox nurses, a pharmacist, genetic counselor, speech pathology, dietician. They are very open to questions and interest in their community. We work well together. Most of their spouses also work. I am glad your videos dispel some of the myths that they do not work. However, I am curious about the 'architect' you discussed. I am married to an architect and licensure requires a 5 year college program, well as an apprenticeship. How does one become an architect-with the required engineering courses-- without a college degree?? It seems that public safety would be compromised.

I live outside of the US where there are no Hasidic Jews in my little country so this video is quite helpful to learn about their way of life

Well done!! Loved the segment

Todah Rabah! Amazing explanation! Much needed! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Many Hasidim get paid under the table- cash business- and can do very well, and at same time get a lot of public assistance, which is why Hasidic zip codes have some of the highest levels of “poverty”. So cash business plus public assistance works very well.

Very interesting video, Frieda. Thanks for sharing.

Fascinating! We’ll produced and very informative!

I think that with so many children, availability of remote educational resources and continuous emphasis on teaching kids to think, aka Talmud study, this community will see more and more prosperity.

Wow!!! This was my first of your videos, but it will not be the last. After watching it, I’m now fascinated with this economy and am ready to start researching it. (I won’t because economics isn’t my thing. Lol.) I could imagine that this economy would make an excellent doctoral thesis subject. I wonder if anyone has ever tracked the average time a dollar stays within the community.

This is a very interesting video. I really enjoyed learning about the Hasidic economy.

What a great video. Thank you for making it

Thank you for this very educational video.❤

I’m in Alabama, a professional photographer and B&H has gotten a lot of my business over the years. They are a wonderful business. Very thankful for them. Cool to see you mention them. They don’t take orders on Shabbat. Very strong beliefs, so much respect for that. Christians, I am one, have not kept up our beliefs like we should.

I had always wondered about this. Great video.

Wow. I am not even chassidish but im so moved and inspired by the beautiful, respectful, honest portrayal you have given. I have been frum my whole life and was always confused how there are so many wealthy chassidim. A streimel alone would put me in debt 😅 its so clear that you have a yiddishe neshome and a lev tov. Thank you for your informative, educational and enlightening videos! Keep 'em coming 😊

So interesting. Thank you for sharing!

I thoroughly enjoy the education you give with each video. I have Jewish roots but my ancestors “turned” Catholic during years of extreme persecution in Russia prior to WWII. In knowing this I am very driven to learn all I can about the various Jewish sects/cultures. Thank you for bringing this knowledge to the general public platform so others like me can learn more.

Outstanding video. I especially liked the segment on your early years of work. In an unrelated areaI get a little concerned when I see Holland and Canada trying to control production through starvation of fertilizer (especially given that most light fertilizers are synthesized with natural gas conversion); attacks on the beef industry; and now Europe attacks kosher slaughter and meat preparation activities. Perhaps one future video might focus on threats to the availability of kosher food, and countering survival tactics. Thank you!.

Very interesting video. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it❤

I like how they shared businesses with each other. I try to do this in Bolivia, but people have to be faithful to shop from each other.

That "misconception" about Hasidic Jewish men just sitting around reading the torah all day was spread by Hasidic Jews. So it's not the publics fault for thinking this way. I remember watching a documentary where a Hasidic Jew said that this was tradition.

Great video. Thank you for your work!

I lived in an ultra Orthodox Jewish community in Tsfat, Israel before and we never had enough hot water... Meanwhile billions of dollars worth of military equipment flew overhead.

Spot on well narrated. I like you had left the community a long time and many people don't see it this way. Great job

Excellent video, very informative 👍😊. I watched another video and someone explained that in the Tora it says that if you have a field, you harvest 3/4 of it and you leave 1/4 for anyone who might need it. I think that charity is part of the way of life. We could all learn from that. Any community outside of its "home" sticks together and supports eachother. I am Portuguese born, South African raised and I have experienced this on both continents, people are drawn to people with the same language, religion, culture, it gives you a sense of belonging. So it's totally understandable that this community supports it's own. Again excellent video 👌

Also Chabad rabbis go to college campuses and different cities to provide services to bring “wayward Jews” back into the fold by providing Shabbat services and educational services and just all around spiritual guidance. I don’t know if these people count as Hasidim but they seem to follow all the rules and are very kind and helpful to Jews who are at any level of spirituality without judgement.

I would recommend you to also show a glimpse into the diversification of the opinions by the Hasidim on their level, and how much campaigning goes in by the community leaders to bring community members to go along and how much it doesn't even help, be it on religious matters or on voting etc. I think that the main part of the problem is that the secular world doesn't see all the internal dialogs, debates and opinions, and rather view all Hasidim as a cult which are following leaders without thinking, rather than seeing them as normal people with a different culture

Hi Frieda, I am loving your videos as a secular ashkenazi Jew living in the neighborhood amongst the Satmar community. I work in a local grocer that carries many kosher products so in accordance, it attracts Hasidic shoppers on a regular basis (or at least Saturday night thru Friday afternoon!) . Most of them, I would even measure 95% use EBT, also known as food stamps. If the population is in fact working full time jobs, earning salaries, and has a “thriving” economy as you highlight - how do so many of them qualify and use “free” government funds for their groceries. I have always wondered this! I hope you will touch upon this further in future videos.

So... a community that takes care of each other. I'm jealous.

I used to work in the nursing home industry and almost all of the people working in the higher up jobs were chasidim. They come in not knowing anything, but they catch on really quickly. (Some have a hard time getting rid of the Yiddish accent)

This is such an interesting video. I am fascinated by the orthodox lifestyle.

As someone who lived in Brooklyn for 20 years, I can answer that question with two words: Real estate.

I love finding out what I never knew I wanted to find out!

Great video:) the world needs to learn about the Hasidic Jewish people and their lovely traditions.

What I got from this very well explained video is that Jewish people reinvest in their Community and local businesses.

My former employer, a major hardware manufacturer, did business with the Hasidic jews. I was sent to their business several times to train them on our products. What a waste of time. Very difficult to work with. They wouldn't touch the products with their baby butt smooth hands. They treated their black employees like dirt. They were rude and treated their female employees (also Hasidic) worse than their black employees. I couldn't wait to leave their business. When asked to return I declined.

You can retain your culture, but if you're getting 1 billion dollars in aid, then you should have some basic education that mirrors the standard education. You can have your schools but certain classes need to be upheld like Science, learning English to communicate with the outside world, otherwise that aid should be unavailable.

This was an excellent video. Thanks.

I just want to say that the government aid given to those schools is from the state. New York gives money to all schools so this is not just because of their religion / financial need.

30 years ago when I was a design student in New York City, I several times went to b&h photo to have my film developed, and have recently been looking at their online website to buy a camera lens. I did not realize they are Hasidic but at the top of the page it says they are closed for Sukkot! Freida I want to ask you how are the Hasidic architects licensed by the state of New York?

Many Hasidic Jews are on government programs, get paid cash under the table, and also receive food and cash help from local Hasidic charities.

I love your podcasts It truly show's the true version of chasidim is the good way Unlike others that try mocking chasidim Love it

Great video, as always. Thank you!