Brooklyn, NY – With just 33 days left until primary day in New York State, the Jewish Press has endorsed a female Chasidic attorney well known as a community activist for civil court judge in Brooklyn’s 5th Judicial District.
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The judicial primary marks the first foray into elected office for Rachel Freier, who made headlines as the founder and director of Ezras Nashim, an women’s volunteer ambulance corps that responds to emergency calls from women in Brooklyn for reasons of modesty.
Mrs. Freier, a lawyer who is licensed in New York, New Jersey and Washington D.C. and with offices in both Brooklyn and Kiryas Joel, is facing off against two other candidates in the primary, lawyer Jill Epstein and attorney Mordechai Avigdor, former counsel to Agudath Israel of America, as previously reported on VIN News (http://goo.gl/4yD9I7).
In its endorsement, (http://goo.gl/BPU985) the Jewish Press noted that a win for Mrs. Freier would serve as a powerful motivator to other young women in the Orthodox Jewish community.
“Mrs. Freier’s activism stems from her admiration for Sarah Schenirer, the pioneer of the Bais Yaakov movement. Her election to the civil court would be an inspiration to all frum girls, from chassidic as well as non-chassidic community…We urge all our readers in the fifth judicial district to go out and vote and put an extremely talented young mother – who will make us all proud – on the civil court bench in Brooklyn.”
Mrs. Freier said that she typically shies away from being called a role model.
“I know that there is a strong following who believe that women have to stay home, and for that who make that conscious decision that is great,” Mrs. Freier told VIN News. “But there are many women who have no choice and my message to those who have to work because they need the money or the outside stimulation, you can do it without compromising. Follow the Torah values, have a rov and a rebbetzin you consult with and you can do it.”
Mrs. Freier noted that her legal career evolved at a slow and steady pace. She worked first as a secretary and then as a paralegal before pursuing higher education.
“I started my undergraduate degree at Touro when I was 30 and it took me six years and law school took another four,” said Mrs. Freier. “I still made challah for Shabbos and my family still had home cooked meals. No matter what I did my family and my children always came first.”
After 10 years practicing as a lawyer Mrs. Freier is setting her sights even higher. She noted that while there are many Orthodox Jewish male judges, being an Orthodox Jewish woman on the bench offers unique possibilities.
“I feel like I was able to help as a lawyer but I can advocate for everyone as a judge,” remarked Mrs. Freier.
In addition to her legal practice and her work with Ezras Nashim where she volunteers as an EMT and a licensed New York State paramedic, Mrs. Freier is also the founder of B’Derech, a GED program for Chasidic men looking to enhance their education.
The 5th Judicial District in Brooklyn, NY encompasses Boro Park, Bensonhurst, Coney Island, and many other portions of Kings County.
If elected to the seat previously held by Noach Dear, Mrs. Freier would become the first Chasidic female judge in the New York State Supreme Court.
“the Jewish Press noted that a win for Mrs. Freier would serve as a powerful motivator to other young women in the Orthodox Jewish community.”
Civil court judge. State court judge. Supreme court judge. Congressman/Senator. Cabinet secretary. Vice president. President.
“Her activism stems from her admiration for Sarah Schenirer, the pioneer of the Bais Yaakov movement.”
Were she here today, I wonder if Sara Schenirer would endorse one of her students to get involved in any of the above public positions.
The first woman president and the first Chassidic female judge… Don’t know what Sara Schenirer would have thought of it. Ruchie Freier is certainly a very accomplished and fine individual. However, I don’t believe a judge’s role is to advocate for anyone — only to follow the law. Mrs. Freier and her good works belong in our community and that is where I would like to see her advocating for a very long time.
And who’s taking care of her children, a Pollack?
Ruchie has energy, she’s a machine!
Hows it possible to do so much??
from one frum attorney to another. it is certainly true that there need be no compromise in sneas and yirat shamayim. there are a number of us here in jerusalem but i started out in new york before moving here. when you stand strong on your frum values, people not only respect you , but trust you and want to endorse your work. wonderful!
A breath of fresh air!
From what i understand “Kol Kevuda Bas Melech Penima” applies to everyone including modern orthodox. The MO in general have way different lifestyles as the orthodox and ultra orthodox so for them it is the norm to be doctor/lawyer etc.
But come on she calls herself a chassidisha woman ?
Mrs. Feier hatzlacha and bracha . You are a shining example for our daughters and grandaughters and a blessing for klal yisroel.
Wishing her the best of luck against the political appartchik that Aguda is putting up.
#1 I don’t wonder I know the answer, she would be totally against it. Please don’t compare your activism to Sarah Schenirer, who had the Gedolims Haskamah on everything she did!
She is a credit to the Jewish people. Kol HaKavod.
I Had worked with Mrs. Freier on a few occasion’s She is a pillar to the community. Let it be “B’derech” Let it be “Ezras Nashim” More important what i witnessed is that Mrs. Freier is very instrumental involved with a Yeshiva that the boy’s could use some help and she proved herself that she is available 24 7 Mrs. Freier will make an excellent judge. Kol Ha’kavod
If you read the article where it states the age that she started college, law school etc.. you will see that her children are at least school age. Quite a few women who work outside of the home whether by necessity or choice are at home for their kids in the morning before school and later in the day after school. I personally know many stay at home mom’s who employ house hold help (such as “Pollacks”). So don’t be so quick to judge.