Julia Haart discusses producing 'My Unorthodox Life,' and the Orthodox Jewish community reacts.

Julia Haart discusses producing 'My Unorthodox Life,' and the Orthodox Jewish community reacts.

Julia Haart treasures the good feedback she's received since her Netflix reality series, "My Unorthodox Life," premiered. However, the former Orthodox Jewish mom/yeshiva teacher, Monsey, New York, resident, and fashion mogul is acutely aware of unfavorable remarks and acknowledges being startled by the degree of hatred.

“I wonder if those writing on these issues have watched the program,” Haart remarked in an interview with Rockland/Westchester Journal News, the same week her reality show premiered. “I believe that if people saw the show, they would realise that it is extremely beneficial. 

"I am genuinely shocked by the attitude," Haart remarked as she prepared for a business trip to Europe. "I truly believed that people would give it a try. My heart is not filled with rage."

In many respects, the show is standard reality television material. Haart leads a glamorous life in New York City, with a fabulous job, four very different children whom she adores, divorce and a second marriage that complicates the work-life juggling act, and a best friend and confidante who adds new storylines and opportunities to provide "outsider" definitions and translations for Orthodox Jewish life.

Haart claims that her issue isn't with religion and that she would always support her children. "The religious folks in my family were quite respectful of one another."

"I simply want to get rid of the fundamentalist aspect," she continued. This is true of fundamentalism in any religion that limits women's choices, roles, and independence.

Many members of the Orthodox Jewish community in Monsey and elsewhere, however, believe Haart's reality program generalizes and simplifies in ways that are inaccurate and may fuel negative prejudices.

It also comes at a time when Jews in the United States are facing a wave of antisemitism. In 2020, the Anti-Defamation League documented 2,024 antisemitic assault, harassment, and vandalism occurrences in the United States. The figure fell only 4% shy of the all-time high set in 2019, although it was the third-highest year since ADL began recording these events in 1979.

New York had the most instances of any state, at 336.

"I recognize that (Haart) may have had her own terrible experiences, grief, and challenges in the Orthodox community," said Alexandra Fleksher, a writer and educator who produces the podcast "Normal Frum Women." "I can understand that."

However, according to Fleksher, many Orthodox women follow their aspirations, such as higher education and prominent jobs. "Please don't paint those broad brushstrokes in the name of all of us. This is not conventional wisdom."

To counter to the gloss of "My Unorthodox Life," Fleksher launched the campaigns #myorthodoxlife and #thisisorthodox. Fleksher was also a student at the Atlanta yeshiva where Haart formerly taught. Fleksher, like many of Haart's previous pupils, stated that she had a positive relationship with her instructor.

"When we see prejudices and disinformation, it causes us to worry as a community. we feel misrepresented," Fleksher said. "We want to fight for our tales."

Fleksher claims that, whether Haart wanted it or not, she has become a spokesman for orthodoxy.

"I'm not going to deny that our community has places where we can improve," Fleksher added. "Yes, we do." But, she continued, Jewish women are far more than the stereotypes that Fleksher feels "My Unorthodox Life" reinforces.

Instead of stereotypes, Fleksher believes that the general public should be given the opportunity to learn how varied Orthodox Judaism is. "If she's going to make a reality TV program, she has a duty to communicate that nuance," she added. "I believe it's harmful that we have a Jew herself propagating stereotypes."

Haart sticks by her program and refuses to back down from her love of Judaism. “I have so much affection for my people, for being Jewish.”

But she is also steadfast in her own quest.

"I never would have gone if I was scared about what others thought about me," Haart says.