23 August 2026
My experience of Kiryas Joel boyhood to manhood | Shia Friedman
The Frieda Vizel Podcast
About
Video link to this interview: https://youtu.be/vEkKjydfG3g
The Hasidic village of Kiryas Joel is an unusual community in the state of New York. It's all Hasidic, very insular. It is shaped around the Satmar Hasidic code of behavior which includes speaking Yiddish, strict gender roles, and insularity from secular society. The community is so gendered that growing up male versus growing up female are completely different experiences. I, as this channel host, have shared much about the female experience. However, there is little I know about the male experience. Through my network of people from Kiryas Joel, I recently got to know Shia Friedman - who is a rare example of someone from Kiryas Joel who is willing to talk on my channel on the record. We sat down to chat, primarily to understand his life as a male who grew up Hasidic. Obviously, Shia's story reflects only Shia's experience, but it can give us some insights just as my experience gives us some insight as well.
We talk about the school day of Hasidic boys, the relationship to teachers, the expectations of learning an extreme amount, the lack of English and secular education, attitudes towards women, marriage rituals, and stepping out of the box. I think there's a lot that's covered in this brief episode, and I so look forward to your thoughts.
Shia's instagram is: https://www.instagram.com/shia__friedman/
My instagram is: https://www.instagram.com/friedavizel/
Check out some of my other videos on Kiryas Joel:
What it was like for me to grow up in Kiryas Joel
https://youtu.be/uHu_17N9GdE
My response to the Tyler Oliviera video on Kiryas Joel
https://youtu.be/ZlWRN4jo-CA
Interview with lawyer Michael Sussman on the early years of kiryas joel
https://youtu.be/jcz0xmkm10s
Interview with Fradel Neuman who comes from Kiryas Joel
https://youtu.be/HoTzWaF7dU8
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-frieda-vizel-podcast--5824414/support.
The Hasidic village of Kiryas Joel is an unusual community in the state of New York. It's all Hasidic, very insular. It is shaped around the Satmar Hasidic code of behavior which includes speaking Yiddish, strict gender roles, and insularity from secular society. The community is so gendered that growing up male versus growing up female are completely different experiences. I, as this channel host, have shared much about the female experience. However, there is little I know about the male experience. Through my network of people from Kiryas Joel, I recently got to know Shia Friedman - who is a rare example of someone from Kiryas Joel who is willing to talk on my channel on the record. We sat down to chat, primarily to understand his life as a male who grew up Hasidic. Obviously, Shia's story reflects only Shia's experience, but it can give us some insights just as my experience gives us some insight as well.
We talk about the school day of Hasidic boys, the relationship to teachers, the expectations of learning an extreme amount, the lack of English and secular education, attitudes towards women, marriage rituals, and stepping out of the box. I think there's a lot that's covered in this brief episode, and I so look forward to your thoughts.
Shia's instagram is: https://www.instagram.com/shia__friedman/
My instagram is: https://www.instagram.com/friedavizel/
Check out some of my other videos on Kiryas Joel:
What it was like for me to grow up in Kiryas Joel
https://youtu.be/uHu_17N9GdE
My response to the Tyler Oliviera video on Kiryas Joel
https://youtu.be/ZlWRN4jo-CA
Interview with lawyer Michael Sussman on the early years of kiryas joel
https://youtu.be/jcz0xmkm10s
Interview with Fradel Neuman who comes from Kiryas Joel
https://youtu.be/HoTzWaF7dU8
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-frieda-vizel-podcast--5824414/support.