American Haredi Orthodoxy in Transition

Session Submission Type: Panel Session

Abstract

The session includes four 15 minute papers and 20-30 minutes of discussion. The four panelists range from young but already established to veteran scholars of American Orthodoxy. Each has published relevant books and/or articles in the last few years that have expanded the scope and methodologies used for analyzing this fast growing (Pew 2013) and dynamic population. Adam Ferziger (Bar-Ilan) presents the central thesis of a new monograph that will appear in the Spring of 2015 entitled Beyond Sectarianism: The Realignment of American Orthodox Judaism. Together with the so-called “move to the right” of Modern Orthodoxy, there are strong indications of a parallel adjustment toward greater engagement with those outside the Haredi sector, especially non-Orthodox and non-affiliated Jews. Sarah Benor’s (HUC-LA) presentation focuses on the new popular culture (films, television shows, songs) produced by Haredi Jews. In contrast to Ferziger’s thesis, she sees the outward focus on Jewish unity within these frameworks as actually being limited to the spectrum of Orthodoxy, to the exclusion of the majority of American Jews. Contributing further to this conversation, Moshe Krakowski (YU) analyzes data collected at Beth Medrash Govoha, the banner yeshivah of American Haredi Orthodoxy. His material supports a portrait that is less insular and enclavist than the prevailing scholarly evaluation. Finally, Ayala Fader (Fordham) addresses widespread “crises of faith” that have come to a fore through anonymous Haredi discussions on the internet and two organizations that have been created to address those individuals who have experienced a personal religious crisis or are likely candidates for one. Here too expanded Haredi interaction with media has engendered adjustments and the creation of new forms of authority figures on the part of this ostensibly insular population. The session will be chaired by prominent social scientist and author of one of numerous monographs on American Orthodoxy, Samuel Heilman (CUNY).

Sub Unit

• Social Science

Chair

• Samuel Heilman, Queens College, CUNY

Individual Presentations

• Beyond Sectarianism: The Realignment of American Orthodox Judaism - Adam S. Ferziger, Bar-Ilan University

• Frum unity, frum diversity: The Orthodox continuum in popular culture - Sarah Bunin Benor, Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion

• Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood and Current Trends in American ultra-Orthodoxy - Moshe Krakowski, Yeshiva University

• The Kiruv Industry, the Internet and the Ultra-Orthodox in New York - Ayala Fader, Fordham University