I'm an Orthodox Jewish Woman, ask me anything.

[Jewishbookwork]

On the thread @Israelilefty started, people were asking about Orthodox Judaism. So I am starting (another) one here. Other Orthodox Jewish women are welcome to answer too, so we have more of a range of answers.

I am Chabad Chasidic, we are very religious - I wear a wig, my husband wears black and white and we have lots of books in hebrew in our house.

Yes, of course you can buy food from a non kosher shop. :). Jewish bakeries are great, highly recommended!

You might find some food more expensive so be warned.

How do you reconcile yourself to male genital mutilation?

are Jewish people in Stamford Hill also Orthodox Jews?

That's good and makes sense. Thanks. ☺️

I wondered more from a community point of view, would a woman receive sympathy and understanding if unable to have a large family. Or would the community attitude (generally I mean, I realise there will always be individual differences) be judgemental / unforgiving?

When I was a student nurse a long time ago. I remember a lecture on religious beliefs, and practices. And we were told that if an Orthodox Jewish family was admitted on the sabbath. That we would need someone do do literally everything. Waiting by doors so they didn't have to press the entry phone. Would you really expect busy staff to facilitate this got you? Not being goady, just curious.

This thread is so interesting. Thanks OP.

@Jewishbookwork so many questions! I find Judaism really quite interesting , especially historically (binge watching The Chosen right now 😝)

main thing I would like to say though - thoughts and prayers to you and your communities right now, it cannot be easy xx

I have never heard of this lol. We don't have one, no.

I do know this story and love it and find it very helpful but I don't know the origins, I am afraid.

What did colour do wrong?

about 40-50 mins in the morning - morning service is very early, about 7am, so men can go straight to work after. 10-20 minutes in the evening.

My cousin is a paediatric doctor in north London. Sees many children with health problems because of the closed nature of the community.
I understand the need to marry within the faith
What is being done about that? Must be v worrying.

I have a few non Jewish friends/work colleagues.

I don't drink much, don't like any spirits or beer (yuk) and only really drink wine. But I hate the way it makes me feel when I drink too much. Thats just a personal thing I guess.

Jewish people are allowed to drink, although wine needs to be a special kosher production. Men generally drink more than women although my husband is like me, he doesn't really drink much at all.

My kids have friends who are not religious or not Jewish. As they get older they tend to prefer socialising with other religious Jewish kids since the gap is too wide culturally.

Why do orthodox Jewish women wear wigs? I’ve never understood. My great grandmother was Jewish so I am interested; I know she always wore wigs despite losing her religion essentially and marrying a Christian.

actually my husband wears coloured shirts, but usually formal clothing, trousers, shirts, a jacket. Most Hasidic and other ultra-Orthodox Jews do. I suppose every culture has some type of dress code and people don't want to be different.

Thanks for the interesting thread, OP.

If a male relative had a child with a gentile woman then broke up with hed, would you shun the child for not being Jewish by birth/marriage/conversion, or would you accept them as part of your family in spite of their not being Jewish and having been rejected by their Jewish father?

If a gentile is critical of current Israeli government policy, do you automatically assume they are antisemitic, or is it more complicated than that? (I only ask because it's an AMA, obviously British Jews don't owe the rest of us a conversation about Israel, for whose actions they are not responsible.)

Is it sad? I don't know. I think a lot of people live in a bubble with similar people around them. Race, class, religion.

I don't really live that sort of life since I live in a very small community so in some areas I interact with non Jewish people a lot, but our lives are so different.

Non Jewish people seem entirely unaware that Orthodox Jewish families don't celebrate Christmas. My kippa wearing sons get constantly asked what Santa is bringing.

You said about the laws regarding purity. Is this the reason that Orthodox Jew men can visit prostitutes? Or is it they are not supposed to? Asking because once lived next door to brothel and they had many Orthodox Jew customers I saw frequenting.

In that situation we would try an minimise breaking shabbat, but if is unavoidable, we have to. So I would take a taxi rather than drive, for example.

Since I am not a mind reader I am not sure how I would communicate to non Jewish staff to open the door (If I was outside and they were inside) but if we were walking together I guess its not more work for them to go in front.

I don't remember what I did when I went in on shabbat, maybe we asked the taxi driver to press the entry phone.

that is definitely not ok but not everyone does everything they should.

I imagine an orthodox Jewish man who visits a prostitute is doing it irrespective of his wifes nidda status.

You said about the laws regarding purity. Is this the reason that Orthodox Jew men can visit prostitutes?

I hope this isn’t true 😵‍💫

x post!

I assume you mean close relatives marrying?

I don't know why people do that, its nuts. I would not be happy for my child to date a relative.

We do a lot of genetic testing to avoid diseases such as tay sachs. Before two young people date they will check they are compatible.

Are certain movies and media banned? What if your child watched inappropriate stuff with a friend? How do you or your husband react?

Do women shave their heads?

Thank you for your reply.