Alone but not lonely; inside this Hasidic woman’s world | Gita Katz

Video link: https://youtu.be/xBBW-b4yNfw

Gita got married, like many Hasidic Williamsburg girls did. In an arranged match, when she was not yet twenty. Her marriage lasted until death did them part. Decades together, seven children, forty grandchildren, and about as many great-grandchildren. What does it mean for a woman of such a traditional, pious world to lose her husband, the backbone of her life and family? Gita is a story of resilience, everlasting love, and the language to express it all through food. From her shabbos morning coffee on the porch, from where she watches young families, to her choice to have peanut butter bread for shabbos lunch, to her refusal to let her kids cook for her, she remains fiercely independent, deeply traditional, and eternally devoted to her family through food. In a world where tradition is lived through food, Gita shares her family tradition of eating Rakot Crumpli: packed potatoes. A Hungarian food of sliced potatoes and eggs, with heaps of "dairy goodies" - cottage cheese, sour cream, and lots of butter.

Join Gita and me for a day in her home of cooking Rakot Crumpli and learning about her life and world as a widow in the Hasidic community. About her struggles with chronic illness and how she lives life fully despite her mobility issues and need to get around with a Rollator. Her resilience and love for life is inspiring, her fashionista side is envy-inducing. Most of all, she laughs and makes you laugh. She's alone but not lonely.

This is my second time with Gita. My first visit was an interview about her life story which you can watch here:

https://youtu.be/2saQ0LEwZXQ
~~ Filmed by me. How did I do? Do you prefer professional videography or more intimate home made filming?
~~ Edited by the wonderful Lee Kupac https://readymag.website/u3245558506/6471652/

I've interviewed the cooking influencer Lovina Zook:
https://youtu.be/GHF0lQS2CHs

Check out another story of an inspiring widow from Williamsburg, Tova Schiff:
https://youtu.be/O2eglqRL5n4

Check out Mr Klein's shop where you can buy Rakot Crumpli
https://youtube.com/shorts/KHnzQ5l674s?feature=share


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-frieda-vizel-podcast--5824414/support.