First Ultra Orthodox Female Hasidic Jewish Judge new York

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Rachel Freier



Rachel "Ruchie" Freier (born April 2, 1965) is an acting New York Supreme Court justice.

In 2016, she campaigned and was elected as a Civil Court judge for the Kings County 5th judicial district in New York State, thereby becoming the first Hasidic Jewish woman to be elected as a civil court judge in New York State, and the first Hasidic woman[6] to hold public office in United States history. Although she ran for the Civil Court, after her election, she was assigned to serve on the Criminal Court in the Kings County 5th judicial district. She previously worked as a real estate attorney and community activist, and served as a volunteer court lawyer in the New York City Family Court.

Early life and education

Freier was born in Borough Park, Brooklyn, the eldest of five children in a Hasidic Jewish family. While attending the Bais Yaakov high school in Borough Park, she took a course in legal stenography, and she graduated from high school in 1982. At age 19 she married David Freier, with whom she has three sons and three daughters.

Freier worked first as a legal secretary, and, in 1994, as a paralegal at law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher, in order to support her husband in kollel. Her husband went on to complete an accounting degree at Touro College, and in 1996, she also decided to pursue a college education. She began studying law at age 30 after realizing she was working for lawyers younger than her.

She enrolled at Lander College, part of the Touro College and University System, where she became director of the women's pre-law society, and graduated six years later with a bachelor of science degree in political science.

She then entered Brooklyn Law School, completing her degree in four years, graduating in June 2005.

Career

Freier passed the New York State Bar exam in 2006. She is also licensed to practice law in New Jersey and the District of Columbia.

Freier and her husband shared an office in Borough Park, where she practiced commercial and residential estate law, and he did commercial financing.

Freier also had a law office in Monroe, New York, where she does business with Hasidic residents of nearby Kiryas Joel. She advocated for the Satmar Hasidic Community by speaking to residents of Orange, Sullivan, and Rockland counties, to help correct misconceptions people might have about Hasidic life in Kiryas Joel, and to better understand the Hasidic neighbors in their midst.

Freier began her political career in 2001 as an intern in the Manhattan office of then-U.S. Senator from New York Hillary Clinton. She also interned for other elected officials.


Rachel Freier meeting with President Bill Clinton & Hillary Clinton

Civil court judge

In April 2016, Freier announced her candidacy for civil court judge, running for the spot on the bench vacated by Judge Noach Dear.

In the September 2016 Democratic primary election for Civil Court Judge of the Kings County 5th judicial district, Freier garnered 4,730 votes (40.9 percent), followed by Jill Epstein with 3,993 votes (34.5 percent), and Morton Avigdor with 2,835 votes (24.5 percent). She entered the November general election, with Avigdor as a Conservative Party challenger, and received 68,088 votes (74.4 percent), to his 23,393 votes (25.6 percent).

Freier was endorsed in the three-way race during the elections by The Jewish Press and the New York Daily News.

On December 22, 2016, she was sworn in at Brooklyn Borough Hall. She delivered a speech that included Hebrew and Yiddish phrases and concepts which she translated into English.[34] Her inauguration ceremony was carried live on WABC-TV and News 12.


NYC Mayor Eric Adams giving Rachel Freier an award at her inauguration in Brooklyn Borough Hall

On hand for her swearing-in was Hasidic singer Lipa Schmeltzer, who sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" with bits of Yiddish and "God Bless America" in full Yiddish version.

Subsequent to her swearing-in, Freier was assigned to serve on the New York City Criminal Court.

In December 2017, Megyn Kelly welcomed Freier to the Today Show as the woman The New York Times has called “the Hasidic superwoman of night court”; she was featured in the series “She’s Got Faith,” marking her one-year anniversary on the bench.

In July 2022, Freier announced her candidacy for Supreme Court Judge, running for one of the 10 vacancies on Brooklyn's Supreme Court.

In January 2023, Freier was appointed as acting New York Supreme Court justice by her supervisors to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court, Religious leaders say she is the first Hasidic woman to hold this role.

Volunteer activities

In 2005, Freier established Chasdei Devorah, Inc., a non-profit charity organization to help poor Jewish families, in memory of a young friend.

In 2008, Freier was one of the founders of B'Derech, a GED program for Haredi youth at-risk. The organization also helps troubled teens with therapy and hypnosis.

The program launched in partnership with the New York branch of Bramson ORT College adding a Men's Division and Women’s Division.

In 2010, Freier advocated to save Breslov Yeshiva in Williamsburg, in spite of opposition from some who harassed the students and maligned the Rabbi, Yoel Roth. Freier received threats for defending the yeshiva, but she won the court case.

In 2011, she founded Ezras Nashim, an all-female Orthodox Jewish volunteer EMT ambulance service established with the goal of preserving women's modesty in emergency medical situations, especially childbirth.

Affiliations

Freier is a licensed EMT, and has completed advanced training to qualify as a New York State paramedic. She has served on Borough Park's Community Board 12, and performed pro bono legal services for the New York City Family Court.

Freier appeared in a documentary about Ezras Nashim, entitled 93Queen, which was directed by filmmaker Paula Eiselt. The film premiered on May 1, 2018, at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival. The film aired on PBS's POV, marking its television debut, on September 17, 2018.

Personal life

She married David Freier, a Bobover Hasid, with whom she has three sons and three daughters. They reside in the Borough Park Hasidic community of Brooklyn. Freier credits support from family and her husband for success. Freier spends her personal time inspiring Jewish woman in Judaism by speaking at Jewish schools, Jewish organizations i.e. OU Kosher Headquarters and Jewish Federations. Freier also speaks at Chabad Centers all over the world, inspiring Jewish woman bringing them closer to Judaism known as the "Kiruv Movement".


Rachel Freier in her Borough Park law office with, from left to right, nephew Shmuel Freier, husband David Freier and son Mayer Freier. (Andrew Katz/JTA)

Bobov (Hasidic dynasty)

Bobov (or Bobover Hasidism) (Hebrew: חסידות באבוב, Yiddish: בּאָבּאָװ) is a Hasidic community within Haredi Judaism, originating in Bobowa, Galicia, in southern Poland, and now headquartered in the neighborhood of Borough Park, in Brooklyn, New York.

Bobov developed into a leading Hasidic dynasty through the leadership of Shlomo Halberstam, a Holocaust survivor.

Bobov and all Bobov institutions are currently led by the Grand Rabbi Benzion Halberstam.


Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam (Hebrew: בן ציון אריה לייבוש הלברשטאם, born 1955) is the current Rebbe of the Bobov Hasidic dynasty.

Bobov communities are found in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn; in Monsey, New York; Los Angeles; Lakewood, New Jersey; Linden NJ; Montreal; Toronto; Antwerp; and London. In Israel, Bobov has large branches in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Ashdod, Elad, Beitar Illit, and an enclave, "Kiryas Bobov", in Bat Yam.


Bobov Institutions in Jerusalem


Annual pilgrimage of Hasidic Jews to Bobowa, Poland.


Annual pilgrimage of Hasidic Jews to Bobowa, Poland.


Annual pilgrimage of Hasidic Jews to Bobowa, Poland.

Video Polish TV: tvpworld.com/41528144/annual-pilgrimage-of-hasidic-jews-to-poland

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Bobover Rebbe Shlita (45) Lands with Helicopter in Kozhnitz-Poland

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What a strong woman this is. Many women in many communities are strong of course. But this woman is exceptional.

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