The Honorable Rachel (Ruchie) Freier will be speaking at the Young Israel of Teaneck on Sunday, November 19, at 8 p.m. Freier, a civil court judge in Brooklyn’s fifth district and the first Hasidic woman to serve in public office in U.S. history, was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Freier will share personal stories, which will be followed by a question and answer session.
Married to a Bobover chasid, Freier worked as a paralegal to support her husband in kollel for 10 years at the start of their marriage. When she turned 30 she decided to return to college and pursue a degree. She continued working full time and attending Touro college one day a week. By the time she started law school she had six children, which included a set of toddler twins. She was determined to succeed without compromising on her Jewish standards. Freier attributes much of her professional success to the support of her husband and family. They not only encouraged her decision to become a judge, they contributed to her ascent with their constant dedication. The odds were not in her favor and it was a difficult race, but in November 2016, Freier acquired 74 percent of the vote and was elected as a civil court judge for the State of New York.
Freier has visited many communities, sharing her personal stories, and never ceases to be amazed at how many people she identifies with from different walks of life. Her story resonates with women from diverse backgrounds, which she thinks speaks to the well-known expression “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh lazeh; As Jews, we are all responsible for one another. “I love going to diverse neighborhoods and meeting new people. We are identified as different groups, but at the end of the day we have much in common. When I speak about not compromising your standards and how important tzniut is, everyone gets the message, even if they have a different lifestyle,” commented Freier. She believes there is so much to be learned from one another, regardless of one’s upbringing.
Growing up, Freier attended Bais Yaakov, an experience she says shaped her life tremendously. Sarah Schenirer, the founder of the Bais Yaakov movement, was an inspiring role model for Freier. She taught women to pursue their dreams but always maintain their religious standards. “If you are proud of who you are and where you come from, you will gain respect from those around you,” says Freier. “If you are sincere and consistent it speaks volumes,” she added. Freier feels fortunate to have been raised by parents who were both smart, open-minded and genuinely Orthodox. She was taught to believe that it doesn’t matter what other people say or do; you have to do what is right according to the Torah.
Freier is involved with several non-profit organizations, most notably Ezras Nashim, an all-female Jewish organization that provides emergency medical care and ambulance service. The mission of the organization is to uphold rules of modesty for women in emergency medical situations. Freier’s next project is to facilitate the training of women in the Orthodox community as emergency medical technicians and first responders. She has been working tirelessly to introduce the element of tzniut (modesty) to emergency medicine. She wants to help women believe they can actively engage in the mitzvah of pikuach nefesh (saving lives) and ultimately turn that belief into a reality. Freier feels it is her responsibility to be a voice for the segment of the community that needs someone to advocate on their behalf. She likens her position to the story of Queen Esther in the Megillah when Mordechai suggests that perhaps she was chosen to be queen for the sole purpose of saving the Jews. Similarly, Freier feels that Hashem put her in a place that enables her to help. She has a platform allowing her to reach out to New York City government officials and learn about legalities involved in making change happen.
Freier makes a clear distinction between a career and a profession. While she is extremely devoted to her job, her main priority has always been her family. A proud wife, mother and grandmother, Freier always makes sure her family’s needs are taken care of. Luckily, we live in a time where there are hours in the day to focus on other things as well, noted Freier. Freier explains the term “career” to mean one’s primary focus, and a “profession” to describe a job; her career is her family and the law is her profession.
When Freier is not in her courtroom, she continues to work on new endeavors. She believes Hashem gives us a lifetime to accomplish things and sees no reason to rush to achieve everything in a short period of time. Her professional journey began at age 30 and continues to flourish. “Always believe in your children because you never know when they will blossom,” articulated Freier, “but most importantly, teach those around you to stay true to their faith.”
By Andrea Nissel
The Young Israel of Teaneck is located at 868 Perry Lane.
