- Also called:
- Haredi Judaism
- Areas Of Involvement:
- Judaism
ultra-Orthodox Judaism
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What is ultra-Orthodox Judaism?
Ultra-Orthodox Judaism includes groups within Orthodox Judaism that maintain strict adherence to Jewish religious law and separation from both Gentile society and less observant Jews.
Also called Haredi Judaism, these communities are mainly in Israel (making up about 13% of the population), North America, and western Europe. Haredi communities are family-oriented, with high birth rates, rare interfaith marriages, and their own synagogues and schools.
Haredim, meaning "those who tremble" in God's presence, continue to reject Zionism, unlike Orthodox Jews. The Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox and the Sephardi ultra-Orthodox are distinct.
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How does ultra-Orthodox Judaism differ from other forms of Judaism?
Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, or Haredi Judaism, is a branch within Orthodox Judaism that adheres strictly to Jewish religious law and separates itself from broader society, including less observant Jews.
Key distinctions:
* Strict Observance: Haredim maintain a rigorous adherence to the Torah and Talmud in their daily lives.
* Rejection of Zionism: Unlike Modern Orthodox Jews, the Ultra-Orthodox continue to reject Zionism, at least in principle, viewing it as blasphemous.
* Communal Isolation: Ultra-Orthodox communities often live in isolation, maintaining separate synagogues and schools to preserve their traditions.
* Diversity: The Ultra-Orthodox community consists of a wide variety of groups, from those who completely reject the State of Israel, to political parties that participate in the Israeli government.
* Ashkenazi vs. Sephardi: It is important to distinguish between Ashkenazi and Sephardi Ultra-Orthodox Jews. Ashkenazi refers to those of northern European origin, while Sephardi refers to those of Middle Eastern origin.4 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are some important beliefs and practices of ultra-Orthodox Jews?
Ultra-Orthodox Judaism includes groups within Orthodox Judaism that adhere strictly to Jewish religious law and separate themselves from broader society and less observant Jews. Also called Haredi Judaism, adherents are often referred to as Haredim, meaning "those who tremble" in God's presence.
Key beliefs and practices include:
* Strict observance of Jewish religious law (Halakha)
* Rejection of Zionism as blasphemous
* Maintaining separate communities with their own synagogues and schools
* Emphasis on traditional prayers, ceremonies, and Torah study
* Distinctive dress, including long black coats and fur hats for men, and modest clothing and head coverings for women
* High value placed on family life, with high birth rates and a rejection of interfaith marriageThey stress strict conformity to religious laws and moral precepts in sacred texts like the Torah and Talmud.
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Why do ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities follow strict rules about daily life and dress?
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities, also known as Haredim, adhere to strict interpretations of Jewish law, influencing their daily lives and dress. This stems from a desire to maintain tradition and separate themselves from broader society, as well as from other Jews who do not follow religious law as strictly.
These communities emphasize adherence to the Torah and Talmud, resisting modern interpretations and changes. This commitment extends to maintaining specific customs of dress and grooming, based on tradition and Orthodox interpretations of Jewish law. Men typically wear long black coats and some grow long beards and sidelocks, while women dress in long sleeves and high necklines, covering their hair after marriage.
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Where are some of the largest ultra-Orthodox communities found in the world?
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities, also known as Haredim, are largely isolationist groups that maintain strict religious observances. These communities are primarily located in Israel, where they comprise about 13 percent of the population, North America, especially New York City, and Western Europe. Within New York, significant populations of Haredi Jews reside in the Williamsburg district of Brooklyn and the Kiryas Joel community in Orange County. In Israel, large communities are found in Bnei Brak, a suburb of Tel Aviv, and Mea Shearim, a neighborhood of Jerusalem.
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How do ultra-Orthodox Jews interact with wider society and other Jewish groups?
Ultra-Orthodox Judaism encompasses groups that stringently adhere to Jewish religious law, often separating themselves from broader society, including less observant Jews. Known as Haredim ("those who tremble" before God), they maintain distinct communities with their own synagogues and schools, high birth rates, and rare interfaith marriages.
Their interaction with wider society varies. Some groups, like the Neturei Karta, reject the State of Israel's legitimacy, while others form political parties that influence Israeli government. Haredi parties often focus on funding their communities and enforcing their religious law interpretations. Although they reject Zionism in principle, they sometimes support religious Zionists' positions. Orthodox rabbis may challenge non-Orthodox practices like marriages and conversions if they contravene Jewish law.
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ultra-Orthodox Judaism, any of several groups within Orthodox Judaism that strictly observe Jewish religious law and separate themselves from Gentile society as well as from Jews who do not follow the religious law as strictly as they do. Ultra-Orthodox communities are found primarily in Israel, where they form about 13 percent of Israel’s population; North America, particularly in New York City; and western Europe. Described as “isolationist,” ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods are generally composed of only Haredi Jewish families. Such communities are highly family-oriented with a high birth rate and a near absence of interfaith marriage, and they have their own synagogues and schools.
The ultra-Orthodox are often referred to in Hebrew as Haredim, meaning “those who tremble” in the presence of God (because they are God-fearing). Unlike the Orthodox, the ultra-Orthodox continue to reject Zionism—at least in principle—as blasphemous. In practice, the rejection of Zionism has led to the emergence of a wide variety of groups, ranging from the Neturei Karta (Aramaic: “Guardians of the City”), which does not recognize the legitimacy of the State of Israel, to the political parties of the Haredim in Israel, which occasionally determine which of Israel’s major parties is able to form a government. In Israel, Haredi Jews have traditionally been exempt from military service on the condition of religious practice, though increasing the number of Haredi Jews in the military remains a highly contentious political issue.
It is important to distinguish between the Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox and the Sephardi ultra-Orthodox. The term Ashkenazi (plural Ashkenazim) originally referred to Jews from Germany, and Sephardi (plural Sephardim) originally referred to Jews from Spain and Portugal. But in Israel the terms are often used to designate Jews of northern European origin on the one hand and Jews of Middle Eastern origin on the other.
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The Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox
The Ashkenazi Haredi political parties in Israel have concentrated primarily on obtaining funding for their communities and on enforcing strict conformity to their interpretation of Jewish religious law concerning issues such as observance of Shabbat, conversion, kosher dietary laws, and, in their view, the desecration of the dead by archaeologists. Since the Six-Day War, however, most Ashkenazi Haredim have tended to support the position of the militant religious Zionists against “land for peace,” despite their continued theoretical opposition to Zionism and the state it produced.
Shas and the Sephardi underclass
Another major form of Jewish fundamentalism in Israel is represented by the Sephardi ultra-Orthodox and their political party, Shas—Shas being a Hebrew acronym for Sephardi Torah Guardians. The Sephardim, in the broad sense of Jews of Middle Eastern origin, are, by and large, less well-educated and less prosperous than the Ashkenazim, and many of them feel that they are discriminated against. Indeed, the Sephardim who vote for Shas tend to be motivated less by belief in the party’s program of strict conformity to Jewish religious law than by frustration and resentment caused by their perceived second-class status in Israeli society. Shas is thus an excellent illustration of the fact that fundamentalist movements often owe their success to political and social grievances rather than to strictly religious ones. In addition to its religious and cultural platform, Shas provides schools and other social services for poor Sephardim; in this respect it is similar to some Islamic fundamentalist movements.