Video link to this episode: https://youtu.be/IfWm5mlQRwg

When Jewish worshippers were attacked in the UK during Yom Kippur, it struck a nerve far beyond the synagogue walls. In this wide-ranging conversation, Izzy Posen and I explore the roots and realities of antisemitism in Britain today.

Is immigration really to blame? How does Zionism complicate public attitudes toward Jews? And how has British antisemitism evolved—from old Christian tropes to new political ones?
We also get deeply personal.

Izzy, now two months away from his wedding, reflects on his own transformation—from a Hasidic yeshiva student to a secular thinker and translator. He shares a haunting poem he wrote after being reunited with his estranged family at his mother’s funeral, where he met his youngest sibling for the first time:

It could’ve been at a picnic in the park.
It was at the funeral.
It could’ve been at a festive family dinner.
It was in the house of mourning.
It could’ve been at a family celebration.
It was in the cemetery.
It could’ve been with her at our head.
It was at her coffin.
It could’ve been sooner.
It was too late.

We talk politics, identity, affirmative action, the different faces of antisemitism experienced by religious and secular Jews, and how one man continues to seek meaning through language and love.

Watch my previous interviews with Izzy:
On his Hasidic upbringing and education: https://youtu.be/SeZL920Eae8
Our live conversation: https://youtu.be/JpFVZj83wCw

Follow Izzy’s work:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@izzyposen2092
Blog: https://journeyerblog.wordpress.com/2023/09/05/the-family-reunion/
Twitter: https://x.com/PosenIzzy
Izzy also does beautiful Yiddish translation—he’s available for hire.




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Video link to this segment: https://youtu.be/87TYqw7aKbI

Step into a world where sleight of hand meets Hasidic life. In this episode, I sit down with Dovy, a young magician from the Bobov community who has built a career performing in gender-segregated, kosher spaces. Our conversation opens a window into how Hasidic youth, without traditional pathways like college or conventional careers, find creative ways to carve out livelihoods within their own community.

With Dovy, the story goes even deeper: is magic considered kosher entertainment—or dangerously close to the “dark arts”? What happens when a Hasidic man performs for women, and how does he navigate those boundaries? Between thought-provoking questions and a few dazzling tricks, this interview brings both laughter and insight into the ways tradition and innovation collide in Hasidic life. 

✨ Find Dovy online:
YouTube: youtube.com/@dovythemagician
Instagram: instagram.com/dovythemagician
Miniatures: Dovy’s Miniatures

🎧 Audio-only podcast version of this interview:
api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/67300158/download.mp3

🌐 Connect with me:
YouTube: youtube.com/@friedavizel
Instagram: instagram.com/friedavizel
Website: friedavizel.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-frieda-vizel-podcast--5824414/support.

Video link to this episode: https://youtu.be/IdA3uHWGEtg

In today’s video, I’m honored to share with you the remarkable story of Nelly Grussgott. This footage was originally filmed on August 12, 2020—long before I had a YouTube channel. It was part of a project by filmmaker Pearl Gluck, conducted for a documentary she was making with scholar Naomi Seidman about the Bais Yaakov girls' school movement. Naomi invited me to assist with the interview, and I was there in the room when it was recorded.

From the moment I met Nelly, I was completely taken by her. Her life story is one of immense pain and breathtaking resilience—a testimony to survival, transformation, and spirit. Just days after the interview, Nelly made Aliya—she moved to Israel—at the age of 90. We stayed in touch, and I even interviewed her again via Zoom for this channel. But this original interview, which has always felt so precious to me, was never publicly shared until now. With the blessing of Pearl and Naomi, I’ve edited it down and am releasing it here to preserve her memory and her voice for posterity.

As of today, Nelly Grussgott is 95 years old—bless her soul, may she live to 120.
Born in Berlin, Germany, in 1930, Nelly witnessed Kristallnacht as a young child. Her early childhood was comfortable—charmed, even—growing up as an only child in a pampered, middle-class Orthodox Jewish home. Her parents were not German-born: her mother, from Czechoslovakia, moved to Berlin at 24 and became successful in the rags/textile business. Her father was Hungarian, and both were deeply religious. Due to the hostility towards Orthodox Jews in Berlin, they adapted to a modern Orthodox lifestyle.
In 1937, Nelly’s father went to the United States to secure affidavits to bring his family to safety. He succeeded—but history intervened cruelly. While her father was still away, Nelly and her mother were forced out of their home and into an overcrowded apartment with five other Jewish families. One night, Nazi soldiers raided the apartment and took the men at gunpoint. Days later, ashes were returned to their wives in the mail.

In a desperate move, Nelly’s father returned to Europe in 1938—traveling to Belgium to reunite the family. It proved to be a devastating mistake. Nelly and her mother, Czechoslovakian citizens, were able to emigrate to the U.S. at the very last moment, getting papers as I understand it in late 1939 but actually coming "in the last hour" in Frebruary 1940. But because her father was Hungarian, and the Hungarian quota was closed, he remained trapped in Europe. His letters continued for several years, growing more despondent until, in 1942, they stopped entirely.

In 1995, the Red Cross confirmed the fate the family had long feared: Nelly’s father was deported to Majdanek, then to Sobibor in March 1943, where he was murdered, along with many relatives.

Nelly’s mother eventually remarried in America, joining with a Satmar Hasid who had also survived great loss. She thrived in Williamsburg, Brooklyn—especially enjoying her later years on Lee Avenue, surrounded by familiar faces and warm greetings. Nelly herself chose a different path, remaining Orthodox but not Hasidic, and went on to raise a mainstream Orthodox family.

I’m deeply grateful to finally bring this interview to light. May Nelly’s story reach far and wide—and may we never forget.


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-frieda-vizel-podcast--5824414/support.

Link to video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/QWLnKjrpcuA

Join me for a fascinating conversation with documentary filmmaker Paula Eiselt, the Emmy-nominated, Peabody- and DuPont-Columbia award-winning director behind 93 Queen, Aftershock, and Under God.

In this interview, we dive into her groundbreaking film 93 Queen, which tells the story of Hasidic women in Boro Park who founded their own all-female EMS service. In a community where Hatzalah, the all-male emergency response team, is seen as the crown jewel, this move sparked intense debate and resistance. Paula’s film goes far beyond the surface narrative of women breaking barriers—it offers an intimate, nuanced portrait of Hasidic women’s lives, struggles, and determination.

We also talk about Paula’s creative journey, her upcoming film We Met at Grossinger’s (premiering in late 2025), and what it means to tell stories that sit at the intersection of tradition, change, and human complexity.

📌 Explore further:
Watch 93 Queen: https://amzn.to/45G6PgU
Paula’s website: https://www.paulaeiselt.com/
Paula on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pizelt/

📌 Stay connected with me:
YouTube: @FriedaVizel
Instagram: instagram.com/friedavizel
Twitter: twitter.com/FriedaVizel
Website: friedavizel.com

📌 Other videos you might be interested in:
The Aguna Crisis: https://youtu.be/_H1hjrS2MLo
She's blind in the Orthodox community: https://youtu.be/28lP8j8swA0
Why I left Hasidic Education Activism: https://youtu.be/IRTvj1_4_14
A non-Jewish teacher's testimony of teaching Hasidic boys: https://youtu.be/lR7UL9b_xNU


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-frieda-vizel-podcast--5824414/support.

Video link to this interview: https://youtu.be/WSYIhDbY0VY

In this conversation, I speak with Rabbi Mayer Schiller, a Hasidic Jew based in Monsey, New York, known for his deep knowledge of the Hasidic community and his rare combination of freethinking, humanist, and unflinchingly critical views. We touched on big themes like Zionism, sectarian divides, and other hot-button topics.

Outro Music selected by Rabbi Schiller Agudah Achas (feat. Yoel Blum)
https://youtu.be/u6TuUxzx8ek?si=GKkJDKlpgD1t5cWo
It's the verse ״ויעשו כולם אגודה אחת לעשות רצונך בלבב שלם from the High Holiday prayers. It's translated as "And they all formed one union to do your will with a whole heart." Very apt to my conversation with Rabbi Mayer Schiller!

Join this channel to get early access to videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD2OaOinKRQMK4dclGOw4QA/join

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-frieda-vizel-podcast--5824414/support.

Video version of this interview: https://youtu.be/OhEuezMqyaE

In this video, I sit down with Mattel, a young YouTuber from the Hasidic community whose passion for languages is truly inspiring. Mattel creates content in many lesser-known tongues, especially Jewish languages, with a unique focus on Hasidic Yiddish. She travels the world on her own, learns constantly, and generously shares that journey with her audience. On her channel, she has opened up with deep honesty—including a moving video in Yiddish about her brother’s suicide that touched me profoundly. Her work and her journey are only just beginning, and it’s an honor to highlight a new voice carrying Jewish languages into the future.

👉 Check out Mattel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@multisingual1241 —
📌 Connect with me:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friedavizel 
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@friedavizel
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FriedaVizel Patreon: 
https://www.patreon.com/friedavizel
Website: https://friedavizel.com


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-frieda-vizel-podcast--5824414/support.

Link to video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/Uj5wHch-kx4

MOVIES WE DISCUSS IN THIS VIDEO:
Yentl – https://amzn.to/3HmMZPQ
Fiddler on the Roof – https://amzn.to/4lhQbKo
Walk of Shame – https://amzn.to/3UPS0n4
Hester Street – https://amzn.to/3JdvMJ7
Crossing Delancey – https://amzn.to/4mzRvcA
Sophie’s Choice – https://amzn.to/3JdvRfT
Avalon – https://amzn.to/3HmNpFU
A Serious Man – https://amzn.to/4fto21L
Holy Rollers – https://amzn.to/45nuSRF

Join me for a lively, insightful conversation with David Akerman from the channel  @_yiddishkeit   \ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_yiddishkeit/) as we dive deep into Jewish representation in film—from iconic classics to quirky cult favorites. We talk themes, stereotypes, hidden gems, and the ways Jewish life is brought to the screen.

Whether you grew up on Fiddler, cried at Sophie’s Choice, laughed at Crossing Delancey, or were fascinated by A Serious Man, this is a conversation for film lovers, cultural explorers, and anyone curious about the Jewish stories cinema tells.

RELATED VIDEOS ON MY CHANNEL:
Unorthodox – https://youtu.be/v-VWUgQBTvQ
93 Queen – https://youtu.be/QWLnKjrpcuA
City of Joel – https://youtu.be/Ovl9HbcTuUI
Four Seasons Lodge – https://youtu.be/1J6pNHymChE

CONNECT WITH ME:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/friedavizel/
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@friedavizel
Website – https://friedavizel.com


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-frieda-vizel-podcast--5824414/support.

Video link to this conversation: https://youtu.be/1zQ1rSDUUVE

A Balcony in Kazimierz: A Candid Conversation on Jews, Poland, and Post-Holocaust Memory
In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, I sit with Naomi Seidman on the balcony of our apartment rental in Kazimierz—the historic Jewish district of Kraków, Poland—for an unscripted conversation about Jewish memory, return, and identity.

Together, we reflect on what it means for Jews to come back to Poland after the Holocaust. Are we tourists or pilgrims? Survivors by inheritance or outsiders looking in? How do we process the tension between grief, history, and belonging? What responsibilities—if any—come with being second- or third-generation descendants of Holocaust survivors?

Some of the most moving moments of this video were actually recorded off-camera with a hot mic—raw, vulnerable, and unfiltered. We decided to share them because they speak to the kind of honest, searching conversations I believe matter most.

🎥 Edited by Lee Kupak
📸 Videography by Michał Sosna: https://www.instagram.com/michalsosna/
📚 **Books by Naomi Seidman:**
• *The Bais Yaakov Project: A History of the Bais Yaakov Movement for Girls*
https://amzn.to/3UpygGG
• *Freud’s Jewish Question: Lust, Hate, and the Jewish Politics of Psychoanalysis*
https://amzn.to/3TV0GYV
• *Faithful Renderings: Jewish–Christian Difference and the Politics of Translation*
https://amzn.to/40Bak6J
🎬 Link to my other video with Naomi: 
On Naomi's life story | https://youtu.be/aAHE9YNnxf8
A Heretic in the House | https://youtu.be/TrEQ_PMnVFQ
🙏 Special thanks to the University of Toronto for helping cover part of the costs of producing this video.

🔗 Stay connected:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friedavizel
Twitter (X): https://www.twitter.com/friedavizel
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@friedavizel
Website: https://www.friedavizel.com

💛 Huge thanks to my channel members
Your support makes these conversations possible. Thank you for believing in independent, heartfelt Jewish content.

Music Credits:
1. Calling Home by Alex-Productions | (https://onsound.eu/)
Music promoted by (https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/)
Creative Commons CC BY 3.0
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
2. Music provided by "Vivek Abhishek"
(https://www.youtube.com/user/VivEKhsihbA/videos)
Music used : "polish dance" originally composed and produced by "Vivek Abhishek" - (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLByBt4wYTQ)
Follow on Facebook:
(https://www.facebook.com/VivekEKhsihbA/)
Follow on Instagram:
(https://www.instagram.com/vivek.abhishek.music/)
3. "AERØHEAD - Fragments" is under a Creative Commons (BY-NC 3.0) license:
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/)
(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoZbM1a4PKQ6haa2Ap4TSdg)
Music powered by BreakingCopyright:    • 🔥 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_SJmiVLM_g)
#JewishHistory #Kazimierz #Poland #HolocaustMemory #PostHolocaust #JewishIdentity #NaomiSeidman #FriedaVizel #JewishHeritage #HonestConversations #JewishCulture #SecondGeneration #Krakow #KazimierzBalconyTalks #JewishDiaspora #HolocaustLegacy




Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-frieda-vizel-podcast--5824414/support.

Video link: https://youtu.be/5JUhkH71qUc


How Hasidic Women Dress: A Conversation with Pearl from Williamsburg
What does modest clothing mean in the Hasidic world—and how is it taught from such a young age?
In this video, I sit down with Pearl, a Hasidic woman from Williamsburg who has been dressing in this tradition for over 70 years. We talk about how Hasidic girls begin learning the rules of modesty at age 3, what kinds of clothing are considered appropriate, and how fashion trends are received within the community.
We also discuss:
– The difference between weekday and Shabbos outfits
– How community standards evolve (or don’t)
– Why new clothing styles can become controversial
– And what it’s like to follow these customs over a lifetime
This is a rare glimpse into the everyday experience of Hasidic women’s fashion and the ideas behind it—all from someone who’s lived it for decades.
#HasidicWomen #HasidicFashion #WilliamsburgBrooklyn #JewishTraditions #OrthodoxJudaism #ModestFashion #PearlFromWilliamsburg

Music credit:
1. Song: Planet Nine 
Music by:   / infraction  
Provided by:
https://bit.ly/YouTubeEMW ⚫
2. Song: Chill
Composer: Sakura Hz
Website: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6x1zYZR6PXhEmDY89G4rzg
License: Creative Commons (BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Music powered by BreakingCopyright: https://breakingcopyright.com
3. Music track: floral by massobeats
Source: https://freetouse.com/music
Free To Use Music for Videos

4. Music track: Magnificent by Pufino
Source: https://freetouse.com/music
No Copyright Music (Free Download)
5. Music track: rose water by massobeats
Source: https://freetouse.com/music
Free To Use Music for Videos


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-frieda-vizel-podcast--5824414/support.

Video link to this interview: https://youtu.be/aAHE9YNnxf8

What was it like to grow up in 1960s Boro Park as the daughter of survivors—and as a girl who wanted to run? In this candid and unfiltered conversation, scholar Naomi Seidman opens up about her Orthodox Jewish upbringing, her discomfort with the gender roles she was expected to fulfill, and her deep desire to escape. We talk about her path to becoming a PhD, how her parents responded, and the haunting legacy of her father’s own doctorate from the University of Warsaw—earned just as war was about to erupt. A deeply personal, often funny, and unforgettable reflection on memory, identity, and rebellion.


📍 Follow me on:
Instagram: @friedavizel
TikTok: @friedavizel
YouTube: @friedavizelbrooklyn
Website: friedavizel.com

#JewishBrooklyn #NaomiSeidman #BoroPark #OrthodoxJudaism #JewishWomen #JewishVoices #SecondGenerationStories #Yiddishkeit #JewishStudies #FriedaVizel #UnfilteredConversations #BrooklynHistory #JewishHeritage #OralHistory #HasidicBrooklyn


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-frieda-vizel-podcast--5824414/support.