The Orthodox Jewish lifestyle and belief is one culture that is woefully underrepresented and even misrepresented in mainstream media. In an effort to educate the masses about their life and culture, Daniel and Raizel Namdar, and their son Mendel, are building a platform by sharing their Chassidic lifestyle online. In developing the first Orthodox Jewish family vlog, dubbed That Jewish Family, the Namdar family teaches the world about their Orthodox Jewish beliefs and culture.
By sharing their lives and experiences online, the Namdars are helping to break down stereotypes and misconceptions about Orthodox Judaism. In doing so, they also increase understanding and appreciation for this unique and ancient culture.
Daniel and Raizel both grew up in Jewish Chassidic homes. Daniel was one of 11 children and spent his early years in Gothenburg, Sweden. Raizel grew up in Sydney with her seven siblings. Growing up in large, deeply religious families helped them develop and strengthen their faith. Many people were also around to support them as their beliefs developed.
As they grew into adulthood, Daniel and Raizel realized that few people were actually familiar with the lifestyles of Chassidic Orthodox Jewish families like theirs. Moreover, the media—movies and TV shows—often portrayed Jewish families as awful stereotypes at best or completely off-base at worst. They realized that this stemmed from prejudice against Jewish people as well as ignorance.
“So much of the Orthodox Jewish world is unknown. And stories that are filmed or written about us are usually scripted and written to fit a certain narrative. There are a lot of misconceptions about us,” Daniel shared.
Unsettled by this realization that society at large seemed to not know anything about their culture, the couple was looking for a way to connect with other people who might be interested in learning about their culture. So when they found the Netflix series Unorthodox, which explores the life of a fictional Jewish woman who runs away from her marriage to Germany, they were inspired to take action and share their own experiences as Chassidic Orthodox Jews on social media. They hope that by doing so, they can connect with others and help them understand their culture better.
“We decided to use Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook to show the world how we live for real, in a genuine and non-scripted manner,” Raizel said. Across all social media platforms, they chose the username That Jewish Family.
They originally started the channel to document their own lives as Orthodox Jews and share their culture with the world. The couple has since become somewhat of an internet sensation, with their vlogs garnering millions of views. Their videos discuss a wide range of topics related to Orthodox Judaism, from common misconceptions about the faith to inside looks at various aspects of their daily lives. They also regularly respond to questions from their social media followers and share photos and videos of events and customs that non-Jews might not be aware of.
In addition to providing an informative and entertaining look at Orthodox Jewish life, the couple also uses their platform to promote tolerance and understanding between people of all faiths and backgrounds. They hope that by sharing their own culture with the world, they can help make the world a more accepting and inclusive place for everyone.
That Jewish Family is a unique voice in the world of influencers, as they have chosen to live a nomadic lifestyle, which adds another layer of complexity to their lives. “On our social media accounts and vlogs, we share our nomadic and Chassidic lifestyle. That is a rare combination. A nomadic lifestyle is not so traditional, especially in the communities we grew up in,” Daniel said. “But we chose to be Nomads to do something drastic to raise awareness of a genuine Orthodox Jewish life.”
Since starting their nomadic trip, That Jewish Family has developed a strong online network that is supported by both Jews and non-Jews. In fact, they have amassed more than 180,000 followers on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook. Their online presence has allowed them to connect with people from all over the world and share their experiences in a way that is both relatable and inspiring.
