Piety and Power: The World of Jewish Fundamentalism - Hardcover

Landau, David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0809076055 ISBN 13: 9780809076055

Publisher: Hill and Wang, 1992

Synopsis

Examines the world of the haredim, the bearded, black-clothed Jewish fundamentalists, including their self-contained ghettos in New York, London, and Israel, their strict rules, their revival, and more.

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Reviews

Landau provides a rare inside look at the mindset and world of the haredim , black-garbed ultra-Orthodox Jews who, in his verdict, constitute an aggressive fundamentalist movement convinced of its divine right to win souls and mold the Jewish people. In the U.S., reports the author, political correspondent for the Israeli newspaper Maariv , haredi leaders make common cause with Christian fundamentalist groups, taking positions on abortion, gay rights and affirmative action far removed from the liberalism espoused by most Jewish organizations. He examines the growing influence of Israel's haredi parties, which wring concessions out of Likud and Labor. Drawing on interviews in New York, London, France and Israel, he takes us into the yeshivas, into homes governed by strict sexual codes and into the courts of haredi rabbis. His insightful survey concludes that the haredi exacerbate the threat of a deep schism in worldwide Jewry over the question, "Who is a Jew?"
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

An engaging look into the philosophies and lifestyles of the various sects of Orthodox Jewish fundamentalists. Landau (an editor of the Israeli daily Haaretz) examines the resurgence of haredism and its sociopolitical impact. Though he describes haredi ghettos in London, N.Y.C., and elsewhere, he focuses primarily on Israeli sects, delineating their newly emerged political power and predicting a growing role for them in Israeli's future: Haredi mentor ``Rabbi Shach's decision in March 1990 to support the [right wing] Likud was the most momentous event in Israeli politics for years.'' Both the rightist Likud and the left- leaning Labor parties woo the haredim with financial support for their institutions of learning and with draft deferments for their ubiquitous Talmudic academy students. Landau documents the extent of all this kosher political pork, tracing it back to Israeli's founding years. Though he remains objective throughout, he depicts the 92-year-old spiritual leader of Degel Hatorah as backward and bigoted and cites a Hasidic editor who warns against ``talking with disgusting heretics.'' More appealing are Landau's portraits of more tolerant leaders like Rabbi Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the spiritual leader of Sephardic Jews from North Africa and the Near East. Landau also details the schisms that divide the sects from one another, and the even wider breach between them and the National Religious Party, representing the Modern Orthodox in Israel. While Modern Orthodox are, for the most part, fervent nationalists, the haredim, the author says, see the sinfully secular state of Israel as ``a vindication of their anti- Zionism.'' Landau concludes with a fascinating study of the fierce debate in Israel and beyond on ``Who is a Jew?,'' suggesting that ``the dismissal of haredism as anachronistic may itself be an anachronism.'' A valuable, well-researched study of this misunderstood minority of a minority. (Appended with a solid bibliography and a glossary of both Yiddish and Hebrew terms.) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

A well-known Israeli journalist objectively describes the world of Haredim, or "God-fearers," those half-million ultra-Orthodox Jews who follow the strictest interpretation of the Jewish faith. Most live in Israel, but large numbers have settled in New York City. Landau covers all the major aspects of their lifestyle: their religious beliefs and practices, educational systems, marriage and sexual mores, and, most importantly, their politics. The vast majority of Haredim are anti-Zionist, but they wield considerable political clout in Israel, decrying the "leniency" of less Orthodox Jews. In fact, Haredim are proliferating, and Landau sees a potential Kulturkampf developing between them and secular Jews. This book, which covers virtually the same ground as Samuel Heilman's excellent Defenders of the Faith ( LJ 2/1/92), is highly recommended but would be a redundant purchase if one owns Heilman.
- Robert A. Silver, Shaker Heights P.L., Ohio
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Hill and Wang
• Publication date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0809076055
• ISBN 13: 9780809076055
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 358