Oprah Meets Hasidic Jews For 'Next Chapter' (VIDEO)

In one of the most highly anticipated episodes of "Oprah's Next Chapter," the former queen of daytime sat down with Hasidic Jews who have never watched her legendary talk show before.

Oprah traveled to Brooklyn for the OWN show, which features her talking to public figures and private families. The episode, titled "America's Hidden Culture," looks inside the "usually private and mysterious way of life" of Hasidic Jews.

Aron and Shterna Ginsberg, a Hasidic couple who have raised their children without television, invited Oprah into their home. Oprah and Shterna built great rapport, sharing an "a-ha moment" and discussing Shterna's wig. "Very good wig," Oprah marveled.

She spoke candidly with Shterna and other Hasidic women about not having physical contact with their husbands in public, and other aspects of their sex lives. Shterna joked that stringent couples have sex "only by fax, and then the more stringent only by email."

Oprah also sat down with the Ginsbergs' nine children for a traditional meal of gefilte fish, matzo ball soup, potato kugel and challah bread. She was shocked to learn that they had never heard of today's most famous pop icons. "You don't know who Beyonce is?" she asked. "Oh my goodness."

She said that it was an interview she had been trying to do "for years and years and years," and wanted to know why the Ginsbergs had decided to allow cameras into their home. Aron cited Oprah's "values and ideals" as the reason. "Even though we're of different faiths, I think we have a lot more in common than we have different," Shterna added.

Oprah also sat down with Dinah Abrahamson and her children, Sarah and Yosef, one of few black Hasidic families. "Black Hasidic Jews -- I didn't know y'all existed," she said. The final half of the two-part show airs on Monday night at 10 p.m.

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Comments

[bigfile4]

11:27 AM on 02/16/2012

I appreciate Oprah's reaching out into the Hasidic Community as they are good representatives of good values if anyone takes the time to inquire. However, they are a SECT amongst the Jews, with their strict rituals and odd dress, many times made to stereotype 'The Jew'. I hope in Oprah's journey she can illustrate the variety of Jewish lifestyles and the contributions Jews make and have made to America and the World.

[Astro Girl]

12:21 AM on 02/16/2012

Hasidic Jews are the equivalent of extreme muslim. They are the one who don't allow women to drive and the women have to sit at the back of the bus separated from the men.

Looking humble is one thing, however they are not. They live very separate lives and don't mix with outsiders (they live in their own neighbourhood etc..)

[morahl]

07:20 AM on 02/23/2012

I am a Chasidic woman and I drive (and even carpool!). I also have an ipad! We are respected in our homes and community, and we respect people of other faiths. We dress modestly to set a good example as representatives of G-d. Please don't judge us by biased media reports.

[damon59]

03:38 AM on 03/18/2012

you make me happy!

oprah made me uncomfortable in many things she said.

[eps0609]

04:34 PM on 02/15/2012

I didn't you all show the entire clip of Oprah with the Black Hasidic Jews.

That would be more relevant to this particular website.

[momofsweeties]

11:19 AM on 02/15/2012

I have always respected Jewish people and especially like the hacidic Jews (they really seem like humble people which is hard to come by these days). I just have a genuine question...why is converting to Judaism so hard? I heard that if one wanted to convert, he/she is rejected three times before they are allowed to study the religion (for a year?) and then take tests. I thought that religions want to increase their followers in order to save them from hellfire.

[johnmorgan]

12:27 PM on 02/15/2012

Not all religions want to recruit. And not all religions believe you must belong to their religion to get into heaven.

[momofsweeties]

02:45 PM on 02/15/2012

So what is the point of belonging to a religion if you don't need to be a follower in order to get to heaven?

[lilkunta]

10:34 AM on 02/15/2012

" Aron cited Oprah's "values and ideals" as the reason.
"Even though we're of different faiths,
I think we have a lot more in common than we have different," Shterna added. "

If the Ginsbergs havent ever watche tv, how did Aron know that Oprah is a moralled and idealistic woman? Does Aron he know that Oprah has been in a longterm sexual relationship and lives with Stedman, who she isnt married to and has no plans to marrry ?

[bigfile4]

11:51 AM on 02/16/2012

Are you sure about Stedman?

[Jake P Hall Jr]

05:17 AM on 02/15/2012

Judaism is a religion. The media continues to allow this misinformation or idea of "Jewish Race" to continue when it is well known that the covenant with Abraham was a religious covenant, not racial. Oprah didn't get into the truth of the matter and remind veiwers.

[eps0609]

04:38 PM on 02/15/2012

You are telling the truth.

"jewish" is NOT a box you can check when you become employed or when the Census is taken.

More lies.

[JohnnyAce Okeke]

02:01 AM on 02/15/2012

There are more Black Jews than you think. Too bad Israel and its people are racist towards them. {{-_-}}

[bigfile4]

11:42 AM on 02/16/2012

BS They only kidnapped 10,000+ of them from Ethiopia when that government banned their emigration. They only brag about that how the Ethiopian Jews assimilated more quickly than all other groups that came to Israel. You should check out your own possible racism as Jews have been integral in securing the Civil Rights of Blacks and other groups. Stop listening to Farrakhan's, Rev. Wright's and other so-called leaders Anti-Semitic rants. Remember that those Arabs that you weep for sold your ancestors into slavery and couldn't give a crap about you now.

[JohnnyAce Okeke]

04:05 PM on 02/16/2012

When did I weep for any Arabs? I'm not involved in your foolish religious war.

http://electronicintifada.net/blog/ali-abunimah/israeli-jewish-hate-rally-against-africans-tel-aviv-caught-video-haaretz-deletes

You were saying? {{-_-}}

[Bogart Brzezinski]

06:54 PM on 02/17/2012

You can slam it because it was published by the Nation of Islam, but the fact is it was compiled using Jewish sources almost exclusively. "More than 3,000 sources - Jewish journals, encyclopedias, newspapers & other publications - Jewish scholars & rabbis - Court records - Shipping records - Jewish wills - Runaway slave notices - Auction notices - Published sermons - Census data - Slave bills of sale - Tax records "
http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Relationship-Between-Blacks-Jews/dp/0963687700
These folks had, shall we say, less than honest motives in the civil rights movement.

[Bogart Brzezinski]

01:11 AM on 02/15/2012

"America's Hidden Culture," looks inside the "usually private and mysterious way of life" of Hasidic Jews.

I wonder if she'll explore the rampant child sexual abuse which goes unreported to the police, or the organ trafficking, the gender discrimination, bigotry, setting neighbors on fire, and so on.
http://goo.gl/QzL5j
http://goo.gl/R17Qm
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99913807
http://law.rightpundits.com/?p=670

[bigfile4]

11:47 AM on 02/16/2012

Who are you referring to?

[Internet Privacy Hah]

12:25 AM on 02/15/2012

I will never, ever understand religious extremists problem with women's hair. Ever.

[G Goo]

07:39 PM on 02/14/2012

As a non-follower of Oprah, I must say this is the best thing she has done since she supposedly retired.

[ehjay]

12:28 PM on 02/14/2012

ab·nor·mal/abˈnôrməl/
Adjective: Deviating from what is normal or usual, typically in a way that is undesirable.
Synonyms: anomalous - unnatural - irregular - aberrant - unusual

What more can be said about the lives of their children?

[johnmorgan]

12:29 PM on 02/15/2012

Sometimes it's desirable NOT to follow the crowd.

[Fritzi]

11:44 AM on 02/14/2012

Orthodox Jewish women must wear wigs according to their religion. It is important that they cover their heads.

[csmomo]

11:23 AM on 02/14/2012

Is it possible that Oprah can get even more boring than she already is?

[Onutz]

12:25 PM on 02/14/2012

((Is it possible that Oprah can get even more boring than she already is?))

If you're more exciting than Oprah, perhaps you should cash in on it with your own show.

[MWMom]

11:01 AM on 02/14/2012

Random

Why does this woman have to wear a wig? Nature is not good enough?

Just like most other religions, a series of many non-sensical rules and value judgments. Geez, so many people are so afraid to make decisions for themselves.

[Mark from atlanta]

11:43 AM on 02/14/2012

Do you go outside wearing pants on your head? Do you drive on the left side of the road? Did you go to grade school?

Every culture has its mores and you are probably more conventional than you realize.

[boston2ohio]

01:12 PM on 02/14/2012

Very clever way analogy. Well done.

[MWMom]

11:00 PM on 02/14/2012

Yes, yes and yes.
Those all make sense.

[jollyelle]

11:00 AM on 02/14/2012

The show was very interesting- did a great job explaining the meaning behind many of the traditions of the culture--one could understand more of the spiritual explanations behind the separation of men and women.

The one objectionable issue is that non Hassidic people are NOT welcome in the neighborhood. Quakers, Shakers, Amish people all welcome "outsiders", it is not okay that one group of people have taken over a part of NYC public streets, etc. Why are they allowed to do this? How exactly do they maintain the separation?

[boston2ohio]

01:14 PM on 02/14/2012

Actually, they are not barred from entering. While it is true that the neighborhood steadfastly adheres to its customs, it does not ignore or disavow others. Not being welcome is perhaps an overstatement.

[Bogart Brzezinski]

02:42 AM on 02/15/2012

Look up statements from the Shas party's former spiritual leader, Ovadia Yosef. This is not simply the attitude of a vocal minority. It is discussed extensively by both Gentiles and Jews, and if you are willing to approach the subject in a mature and objective fashion, it will put a lot of things into context, both historic and current. It is a very important and relevant topic, but it is not discussed freely in any mainstream outlet.

http://goo.gl/FTOzU
http://goo.gl/ruDXt
http://goo.gl/41OPf