These strange people do not represent even 5% of the jewish population. Not only did they invent all their anachronic rithuals, but they make all of the jewish people as aliens in this world. Religion is fine, fanatism, not

This picture makes me cry for the poor deprived bride facing miserable life of pregnancies and pain. She deserves better, much better. This bird is trapped now in an ugly cage. Oh, what a great tragedy.

the queen mother of a great family with lots of joyful children.Happy?

They dress like because the nobility in Eastern Europe dressedt looked this.way......Jews during the 2nd Temple period in Israel NEVER looked like this.

haredi couples are the happiest married in the world and have the least divorce cases.

Why can peolple judge the haredy couple? Thats liberty folks. Each one have the rigth to decide. Those young newlymarried live today, its their choice.

Why do you flaunt your ignorance? Is someone who has a different culture than you or who dresses differently a fanatic? You are a sad bigot They have an accomplished life

what's so special about this picture that it won second place? It literally looks like a picture someone took on his phone while the subjects where talking.

The virgin Mary dressed this way. This is not a forced marriage. The couple had met before and sat down, talked and agreed to one another. I wish them all the best, the true Jews of Israel.

She is in for a wonderful life. They share the same goals and are far more committed to each other than you or any of your American friends. I truly feel bad for you and your family that you view pregnancy as a bad thing. Some people actually love their children.

2 dogs and a child,or 3 dogs and no child and be a lady of the world ?.the Haredim are the reserve Bank of the Jewish people,with time they'll become less fanathic and more Zionist.

The Haredi love to speak about the immorality of the secular world, but no secular father would turn over his young daughter over to an 18 year old boy that she did not know. That is abuse.

Women today pursue education, career, professions. They have one or two children later in life, when their bodies and minds are mature. They live into their 80's and 90's, sometime to 100 years of age. They write books, speak out not less than their husbands, become respected. Go ahead, count these possible achievements I listed above and give me ONE this 18 year old may reach if she remains Haredia. Look at his mother in the picture who is probably no more than 50 and looks like a miserable 80 despite the smile.

Barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen. That's how feminists used to describe how male chauvinists wanted women to be back in the 1960s. This poor girl will be there soon (when she isn't slogging away at a job). She hasn't benefited from feminism at all. She is probably barely literate. An arranged marriage with zero information (or desire - family pressure) about birth control and no knowledge of the opportunities she could enjoy in this modern world. What a way to go! I sat next to an Orthodox woman from Monsey on an airplane and I mentioned similarities with the Amish (outside of the fact that Amish men work hard and that they NEVER accept welfare). She had never heard of the Amish, though most live in Pennsylvania, the state next to NY. For her, it could have been halfway around the world. Who says that ignorance is bliss?

in general, most secular women, pursuing education career and professions, have a child or two max, a dog and a cat and live (legally or illegally) with who knows how many men, are unhappy and bitter with their lots. On the other hand, Haredi mothers without careers and whose professions are raising beautiful families, are the happiest women in the world, especially those with large families. They live long productive lives full of blessing and happiness even to 100 years old or older like my grandmother and most women in our shuls. True, the mother in the photo looks old but that's because her hair is covered in a black kerchief which make even an 18 year old look 30. But there's no doubt that her smile is genuine and happy. Michael, you must be from those jealous bitter secular whose life is empty and vain and nothing to look forward to.

how fast you are judging this couple "they wont be happy" a really? you know how many are really happy? what is better ? your seculare weddings- marriegies? full of cheating, not respect and divorsing? remain after 3 failed marrige alone in old age is better? i dont think so.. look on your marrigies , are u happy? yes maybe 1,2 year and then?? soo dont judge we all know the true

you is not ignorance. You sat next to an orthodox woman in the plane.Did you seize the opportunity to try to understand her vision of life or instead to show your "superiority" I think you are a classy woman,Yselin, but by looking down at people you might miss the chance to learn something you may be didn't know . I wish you lots of happiness,Yselin.

perfect if you had refrained from insulting Michael. Religious people have a greater responsibility than Seculars to contribute to mutual understanding and unity among the different Jewish societies,since the essence of the Tora is "Veahavta at Reecha Kamocha" Surrounded by the multitude of enemies ,divided we fall, united we stand. With G-D's help.

change your glasses when you look at Haredi women. They are the best women in the world.Their aim in life is to build a happy loving family who has the time to care for their sick and elderly without putting them in institutions. In the process of building things ,it is not always easy ,but these women are always in a good mood ,spreading love and joy where ever they are. Michael,it's worth for a man to study Tora in order to get such a treasurable wife.

If you decry the recent worldwide rise in anti-Semitism, consider this: tolerance starts at home. Why are you all (especially some of the Facebook commenters and the first few talkbackers) allowed to say things about Jews that others (especially non-Jews) are not. When others use these words, do you object to the "anti-Semitic" verbiage? If you can disparaging language, why can others not say similar things? You are encouraging more Jew-hatred in the world.

On the contrary, Ora, I learned a lot from her. She talked through the duration of NY-London flight, so neither of us got any sleep, but that was fine. She talked about herself, her family and her community and what was expected of her. She initiated the conversation, which I had not expected. She lamented that she had only 4 children, while "everyone" expected her to have many. She felt that she had been judged unfairly, as she had had infertility problems. She was very melancholy about "keeping up with the Cohens". Her husband had a business, so they did better than many others, and that, too, was held against her. I understood that she felt isolated and seldom had the opportunity to speak with people on the outside. With me as a ready listener, she was able to vent many of the problems and issues concerning her. The only questions she asked me were where was I going and where did I live. I am not sure that she had ever heard of Oslo, Norway, nor did she feel any need to know. I have sent good wishes to her on every transatlantic flight since.

Jews don't dress like. This is basically a Herardi fashion. Nothing to do with Judaism. The Hat is silly. The bride is dressed modestly. The wearing of Black by the Hasidic movement is a "Cult" nothing and no connection to Judaism what so ever.

Love means provide for them not to use them as schnorring tool on their quest for handouts - How do you think they can do that without education? By the way prove that she's not 13 yo.

you.You seem to be a good listener. Kol Hakavod.

isolation of this woman is due to her personality and the reasons she gave are excuses? As you noticed she didn't show any interest in you . I think,she is not a typical religious woman who usually outreach to others. Am i wrong?

I can't answer your question. I don't usually speak to seatmates on airplanes, so she had to reach out just to initiate a conversation with me. She had a beautiful, friendly smile, and it was clear that she loved her husband, who was a giant of a man snoring into the window for the duration of the flight. She looked at him so sweetly. I can't say if her reasons were excuses. They seemed valid at the time. Maybe she had an inferiority complex, but I couldn't tell from one night of conversation. I thought that she felt ostracized because she had fewer children than the other women she knew and that depressed her. I told her that by having fewer children, she had more time to concentrate on each one, but she didn't see that as important.

These haredi ultra-Orthodox are fulfilling for their health, welfare and well-being the mitzvot of not profaning/ prostituting their daughters to keep whoredom and wickedness from coming into the land. People can learn better than what they know to watch these people and learn.