My parents came to this country from Russia as young teenagers (later meeting in Chicago) in 1909 and 1911, the same era in which "Fiddler" takes place. At that time it was indeed the custom in devout families for the wife to work while the husband/father studied Torah. I have been told that in my maternal grandparents' marriage--traditionally arranged, with their first meeting under the chuppah--my grandmother ran a grocery store until they left Russia, so that my grandfather could continue his Torah studies. Once they arrived in this country, however, because of both the language barrier and what they perceived of American customs, interpreted by an adult son who preceded them here, my grandfather found work (at $3 a week!) and my grandmother then became a fulltime homemaker. My understanding today is that in many ultra-Orthodox communities, both in the U.S. and other countries, it is still the custom, if economically feasible, for the husband to remain the student and Torah scholar, the wife being the bread-winner.
My parents came to this country from Russia as young teenagers (later meeting in Chicago) in 1909 and 1911, the same era in which "Fiddler" takes place. At that time it was indeed the custom in devout families for the wife to work while the husband/father studied Torah. I have been told that in my maternal grandparents' marriage--traditionally arranged, with their first meeting under the chuppah--my grandmother ran a grocery store until they left Russia, so that my grandfather could continue his Torah studies. Once they arrived in this country, however, because of both the language barrier and what they perceived of American customs, interpreted by an adult son who preceded them here, my grandfather found work (at $3 a week!) and my grandmother then became a fulltime homemaker. My understanding today is that in many ultra-Orthodox communities, both in the U.S. and other countries, it is still the custom, if economically feasible, for the husband to remain the student and Torah scholar, the wife being the bread-winner.