The world is home to billions of people. It is also home to many different beliefs, cultures, and communities. There is beauty in all areas of the world, although some are more well-known than others. The Orthodox Jewish lifestyle and belief is one culture that does not have enough representation in mainstream media. Daniel and Raizel Namdar and their son Mendel are slowly building a platform for sharing their Chassidic lifestyle online. In creating the first Orthodox Jewish family vlog called “That Jewish Family,” the Namdar family is educating the world about their Orthodox Jewish faith and culture.
Daniel and Raizel both grew up in Jewish Chassidic families. Daniel was born and raised in Gothenburg, Sweden, and was one of 11 children. Raizel, on the other hand, grew up in Sydney. She came from a large family as well as she has seven siblings. Growing up in large families deeply tied to their faith and culture was something significant to both of them.
Despite having tight-knit communities, Daniel and Raizel realized that few people knew how Chassidic Orthodox Jewish families lived. There was not enough information, and often the depiction of their lifestyle in films or television shows was inaccurate. “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.
After watching the Netflix series Unorthodox, the couple was inspired to share more of their culture and lifestyle on social media. “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.”
Through vlogs on “That Jewish Family,” Daniel and Raizel share different aspects of their culture, raising awareness of the Orthodox Jewish lifestyle. They clarify common misconceptions, they answer questions sent by their social media followers, and they give everyone a glimpse into the day-to-day life of a Chassidic Jewish family. They also share photos and videos of celebrations or practices that people outside the Jewish community may not be familiar with.
“That Jewish Family” also has a unique take as content creators because Daniel, Raizel, and their son Mendel also chose to live a nomadic lifestyle. “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 explained, “But we chose to be Nomads to do something drastic to raise awareness of a genuine Orthodox Jewish life.”
Since beginning their nomadic journey, “That Jewish Family” has built a solid online community supported by Jewish and non-Jewish people. They have garnered over 180,000 followers on Instagram, TikTok, Youtube, and Facebook. “Our goal is really to help others understand our lifestyle and our culture,” Raizel shared. “Yes, we live a different kind of life than what most people are used to. But if everyone understood each other, this world would be a much better place.”
The world is a big and beautiful place inhabited by many people from different backgrounds and cultures. What Daniel and Raizel are trying to do with “That Jewish Family” vlogs is raise awareness and educate others about a nomadic and Chassidic lifestyle. “We want to give the world a chance to come together,” they said. “Being open to learning about different cultures will help everyone respect and understand those that are different from them.”