Episode 24: My ORTHODOX Life - Standing Up Against Misrepresentation

When Alexandra Fleksher heard about her former high school teacher’s transformation from high school Judaic studies teacher to modeling executive Ms. Julia Haart, she was curious about the turn of events in her former teacher’s life. But when she saw that Ms. Haart produced and starred in a Netflix reality TV show titled “My Unorthodox Life,” Alexandra was deeply concerned about the ramifications her story and messaging would have on the global Orthodox community. As she learned more about the show and the pernicious stereotypes it peddled about Orthodox women being a monolithic group of uneducated, oppressed baby-making machines, and her portrayal of Orthodox society as a lifestyle stuck in the 1800s, Alexandra decided it was time to stand up and defend the truths of Orthodox Judaism and the truths of Orthodox women everywhere. Alexandra created a social media campaign with the hashtags #myorthodoxlife and #thisisorthodox to give Orthodox women the space to not only tell their stories, but to stand up for misrepresentation. She wanted to showcase proud religious women who lead satisfying, healthy and fulfilling Orthodox lives and to give followers insight into actual people who are Orthodox, their personalities, their backgrounds, their beliefs, and their accomplishments. She had no idea it would blow up overnight, or that it would serve as a source of strength and inspiration for so many Orthodox men and women.  Thousands of women took to Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and even LinkedIn to share their stories, outraged and the claims made against them as Torah-observant women in the Netflix series. They recognized that the show wasn’t about one person’s story, which many felt misrepresented both the Monsey community and less-sheltered religious lifestyle that Julia in fact led. Instead, “My Unorthodox Life” was a smear campaign spouting tropes and dangerous stereotypes, and there was an army of religious women waiting who wouldn’t stand for it. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Alexandra Fleksher is an educator, speaker, op-ed columnist for Mishpacha Magazine, and co-host of the Normal Frum Women podcast.  She holds a M.S. in Jewish Education from the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and a B.A. in English/Communications from Stern College for Women. As a member of the OU Speakers Bureau, Alex had spoken for synagogues and schools around the country. She lives in Cleveland with her husband and five children.