UNORTHODOX: A Jewish Handmaiden’s Tale of Forced Marriage, Sex, and Violence -Fraidy Reiss

Roar with Shari. . . All Things Justice for Women & Survivors

In this episode, I’m talking to Fraidy Reiss, a victim of "Unorthodox".
As a Orthodox Jewish woman, Fraidy was forced into a violent marriage arranged by her family using a matchmaker. A true Handmaiden's Tale of Horror. She was trained and pressured by the Orthodox Jewish Community to be raped, forced into a violence marriage, and treated as a second-class citizen in every way possible. She wasn’t allowed to drive, go anywhere without being covered head-to-toe in a long-handmaiden outfit, and required to cover her hair with a itchy, hot, dreadful wig.

Fraidy Reiss had never been alone with her Orthodox Jewish husband before she was married off to him.

She says he turned abusive quickly, but when she tried to get a restraining order, Rabbi's came to her house and made her withdraw the restraining order and followed her to court to make sure it was filed.

With no education or job, in an insular religious Orthodox Jewish Community where only men have the right to grant a divorce, she felt trapped.

Fraidy shares her story of going from an Unorthodox handmaiden, to a successful educated professional. She graduated from Rutgers University at age 32 as valedictorian with Hillary Clinton in attendance. She is an acclaimed activists both in the United States and is recognized internationally as an expert on forced and child marriage in the U.S. Her writing on the subject has been published in the New York Times, Washington Post and other publications

Listen to Fraidy's story of how she turned pain into purpose and became Unchained at Last.

Listeners, Please Note: Shari Karney, the host of Roar with Shari. . . All Things Justice for Women and Survivors is a survivor and a practicing attorney in California representing victims of child sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual assault.
Even though Shari Karney is a licensed practicing attorney in the State of California practicing in the areas of child sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, this podcast is intended for informational purposes only, there is no expectation of confidentiality and is not intended nor should it be construed as legal advice. For legal advice, you should seek competent legal counsel. If you’re interested in speaking to Karney’s law practice they can be reached at https://karneyadvocates.com/

Please also note that Karney Law is owned by Shari Karney. Karney is the founder of Roar as One. Roar as One is a nonprofit, Karney Law is a law firm and they are otherwise unaffiliated.