Inside Williamsburg: The Hidden World of New York’s Orthodox Jews

Video Description

In the United States, they make up a very visible yet inaccessible community: the ultra-Orthodox Jews. Most of the 200,000-strong community live in New York and are flag bearers for the more conservative and religious branch of Judaism. Recognisable by their outfits, they have a strict dress code and live by even stricter rules. We gained exclusive access to their world and heard from a family expelled from the community for breaking those rules. Orthodox Jews live in a vacuum on the fringes of the modern world. They marry solely within their community and – as contraception is banned in most circumstances – their families often exceed six children. Their entire life is determined by religion, following judaic practices which have not changed since the 18th century. The sexes are strictly segregated. They speak Yiddish, the language of Eastern European Jews before the Second World War. Within the most rigorous branches, men devote their entire lives to the study of religion and women only work in mainstream society to provide for the family’s needs. Children are educated in Orthodox schools, which focus mainly on religious education. We follow the Katz family, with their nine children, during their daily life as they prepare for Easter celebrations. In New York, ultra-Orthodox Jews are long established and accepted but, as their community spreads out, tensions are starting to appear. In Monroe, a small town in the New York suburbs, which is now home to thousands of Hasidic Jews, their presence and lifestyle is challenging local communities. Signs telling people to dress modestly in streets where Orthodox Jews live have not been well received. As for those who make efforts to abandon this tight-knit community, they pay a heavy price: rejection by their closest friends and family and the discovery of a modern world which they scarcely know. This documentary was produced by Nova Productions and directed by Bethsabée Zarka, Stéphane Jobert. It was first released in 2025. --- SUBSCRIBE for more amazing stories, including free FULL documentaries. On Java Discover we have an incredible library of award-winning documentaries: from world-leading investigations to true crime and history, we have something for everyone! Click the SUBSCRIBE button and make sure to set NOTIFICATIONS to stay updated with all new content! Follow us on TikTok, Facebook & Instagram: https://linktr.ee/javadiscover