Until she was 25, Frieda Vizel was a member of and lived in the Satmar Hasidic community in Brooklyn, New York. Satmar Hasidism is a branch of ultra-orthodox Judaism founded by Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum (1759-1841), a Rabbi from Hungary. His descendants became leaders of two Jewish communities now in Romania – one of which was called Szatmárnémeti, now Satu Mare or called Satmar in Yiddish, the namesake of Satmar Judaism.

Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum (1887-1979), one of Rabbi Moshe's descendants, led the Satmar Hasidic movement during the Holocaust. During the War, Teitelbaum was deported to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, but ultimately was able to emigrate to British Palestine. In the late 1940s, Teitelbaum traveled to New York to raise money and then, his American followers convinced him to stay in America.

In the United States, Teitelbaum established the foundations of the Satmar Hasidic community in Williamsburg. Ultimately, this community has grown to be one of the largest Hasidic groups in the world, with nearly 100,000 members living in the Brooklyn area.

Today, Frieda’s professional focus is her company – Tours By Frieda – which takes visitors on walking tours through the boulevards of Hasidic Brooklyn. Her experience growing up a member of the Satmar Hasids, along with her interest in culture, history, society, sociology, and urban studies, informs her tours through the streets of this insular community.

Frieda recently began producing videos of her Tours, and JLTV is proud to present these high-quality vlogs, which offer an inside glimpse into one of the most consequential, yet often misunderstood Jewish communities in the world.

Watch for Tours By Frieda on JLTV’s weekly schedule.

Upcoming Airings:

January 14, 2024, Su, 1:00PM ET - Hasidic Brooklyn Local Economy 

February 13, 2024, Tu, 8:00PM ET/PT - Arranged Marriages 

March 10, 2024, Su, 12:00N ET - Hasidic Willamsburg Brooklyn

March 23, 2024, Sa, 4:00PM ET - Purim 

Interested in taking Tours By Frieda?
Sign onto www.friedavizel.com

You can also follow Frieda on Facebook, Instagram, Trip Advisor, Twitter, and YouTube!