Tours give a window into the closed world of the Williamsburg Hasidim
Frieda Vizel grew up in Satmar community
Walking tours are a staple of New York City life eagerly patronized by both city residents and tourists. You can find tours of outdoor food markets, architectural landmarks, the subway system, sites with organized-crime history and much more.
However, you’ll only find one tour of Hasidic Williamsburg. The Hasidic Jews of that area, mainly Satmar Hasidim and members of allied rabbinic sects, are suspicious of outsiders and want, more than anything else, to keep to themselves and to protect their way of life from outside influences.
One person who does give tours of Hasidic Williamsburg is Frieda Vizel, who grew up in the Satmar community, first in upstate Kiryas Joel and then in Williamsburg, and left it at the age of 25.