Editing Jewish fundamentalism

{{Short description|Jewish anti-modernist movements based on biblical literalism}}
{{Conservatism in Israel}}
'''Jewish fundamentalism''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: {{Script/Hebrew|פונדמנטליזם יהודי}}) refers to [[fundamentalism]] in the context of [[Judaism]]. The term ''fundamentalism'' was originally used in reference to [[Christian fundamentalism]], a [[Protestant]] movement which emphasizes a belief in [[biblical literalism]]. Today, it is commonly used in reference to movements that oppose [[Modernism|modernist]], [[Liberalism|liberal]], and ecumenical tendencies within societies as well as modernist, liberal and ecumenical tendencies within specific [[religion]]s and it is often coupled with extremist ideologies and/or political movements. The use of this definition is important in a Jewish context because the two movements which are most commonly associated with Jewish fundamentalism, [[Religious Zionism]] and [[Haredi Judaism]],<ref name="brit1">{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/fundamentalism/Jewish-fundamentalism-in-Israel#ref883280|encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]|title=Fundamentalism (religious movement)|section=Jewish fundamentalism in Israel}}</ref> stray far from biblical literalism due to the importance of the [[Oral Law#Judaism|Oral Law]] within Judaism. In fact, [[Karaism]], the Jewish movement which is well-known due to its emphasis on biblical literalism, is rarely considered fundamentalist.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

== Overview ==
Like other fundamentalist movements, fundamentalist Judaism usually presents itself as the only valid form of Judaism, [[Jewish culture]], and truth. However, [[Religious Zionism]] and [[Haredi Judaism]], the two movements which are most broadly associated with Jewish fundamentalism, differ in significant ways and historically, they have opposed each other (but recently, there has been more overlap due to the rise of the [[Hardal]] movement). [[Religious Zionism]] is more associated with political extremism while [[Haredi Judaism]] is associated with men studying torah every day and making sure all actions are in line with the will of Hashem.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Yuval-Davis |first1=Nira |title=The Personal Is Political: Jewish Fundamentalism and Women's Empowerment in In: Howland C.W. (eds) Religious Fundamentalisms and the Human Rights of Women |date=1999 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |location=New York |isbn=978-0-312-29306-2 |pages=33–42}}</ref>

== Haredi Judaism ==
{{Main|Haredi Judaism}}

Haredi Judaism consists of groups within [[Orthodox Judaism]] that are characterized by their strict adherence to ''[[halakha]]'' (Jewish law) and traditions in opposition to modern values and practices.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |url=https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/haredim-charedim/ |title=Haredim (Charedim), or Ultra-Orthodox Jews |author=Raysh Weiss |publisher=My Jewish Learning |quote=What unites haredim is their absolute reverence for Torah, including both the Written and Oral Law, as the central and determining factor in all aspects of life. ... In order to prevent outside influence and contamination of values and practices, haredim strive to limit their contact with the outside world.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/essays/orthodox-judaism |title=Orthodox Judaism |publisher=Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs |quote=Haredi Judaism, on the other hand, prefers not to interact with secular society, seeking to preserve halakha without amending it to modern circumstances and to safeguard believers from involvement in a society that challenges their ability to abide by halakha. |access-date=2019-05-15 |archive-date=2012-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516072956/https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/essays/orthodox-judaism |url-status=dead }}</ref> Its members are usually referred to as '''ultra-Orthodox''' in English; however, the term "ultra-Orthodox" is considered pejorative by many of its adherents, who prefer terms like '''strictly Orthodox''' or '''Haredi'''.<ref name="Shafran">{{cite web|url=https://forward.com/opinion/193209/dont-call-us-ultra-orthodox/|title=Don't Call Us 'Ultra-Orthodox |last=Shafran |first=Avi |date=February 4, 2014|website=Forward|access-date=2020-05-13}}</ref> Haredi Jews regard themselves as the most religiously authentic group of Jews,<ref name="DumovaFiordo2011">{{cite book|author1=Tatyana Dumova|author2=Richard Fiordo|title=Blogging in the Global Society: Cultural, Political and Geographical Aspects|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TBQqS-bFBUYC&pg=PA126|date=30 September 2011|publisher=Idea Group Inc (IGI)|isbn=978-1-60960-744-9|page=126|quote=Haredim regard themselves as the most authentic custodians of Jewish religious law and tradition which, in their opinion, is binding and unchangeable. They consider all other expressions of Judaism, including Modern Orthodoxy, as deviations from God's laws.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/essays/orthodox-judaism |title=Orthodox Judaism |publisher=Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs |quote=Orthodox Judaism claims to preserve Jewish law and tradition from the time of Moses. |access-date=2019-05-15 |archive-date=2012-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516072956/https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/essays/orthodox-judaism |url-status=dead }}</ref> but other [[Jewish religious movements|movements of Judaism]] disagree.<ref name="Rubel2010">{{cite book|author=Nora L. Rubel|title=Doubting the Devout: The Ultra-Orthodox in the Jewish American Imagination|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NR2lyBRvt9QC&pg=PA148|access-date=24 July 2013|year=2010|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-14187-1|page=148|quote=Mainstream Jews have—until recently—maintained the impression that the ultraorthodox are the 'real' Jews.}}</ref>

== Religious Zionism == 
{{Main|Religious Zionism}}
[[Religious Zionism]] is an ideology that combines [[Zionism]] and [[Orthodox Judaism]]. It primarily began with the teachings of Rabbi [[Abraham Isaac Kook]] (1865–1935), who saw Zionism as a part of a divine scheme to [[Gathering of Israel|return Jews to their ancestral homeland]] and eventually bring about the coming of the [[Messiah#Judaism|Messiah]]. Religious Zionism gained a new momentum after the [[Six-Day War]] in 1967, when Israel conquered the [[West Bank]], a territory which is rich in [[Historicity of the Bible|Biblical history]]. The [[Gush Emunim]] movement took off under the leadership of [[Zvi Yehuda Kook]] and it also spearheaded the proliferation of [[Israeli settlements]] in the newly conquered territory.

Religious Zionism is still a relatively broad term which encompasses both moderate and extremist elements. The extremist elements are frequently associated with [[anti-Arab racism]], [[anti-Palestinianism]] and [[violence]], frequently, they are associated with ideological inspiration from [[Kahanism]]. They have also been associated with [[Jewish extremist terrorism|terrorism]] against [[Palestinians]] and in some cases, they have also been associated with terrorism against the [[Israel Defense Forces]]. The [[Hilltop Youth]] movement is especially associated with the most extreme forms of Religious Zionism.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goldman |first1=Paul |title='Fundamentalist' Jewish Terror a Growing Threat to Israel: Experts |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/fundamentalist-jewish-terror-growing-threat-israel-experts-n480176 |website=www.nbcnews.com |date=4 January 2016 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=13 August 2021}}</ref>

== Study ==
Jewish fundamentalism was ignored for much of the 20th century, and it was only when it began to have an effect on [[Israeli politics]] and international relations that scholars began to study it in earnest.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Brownfeld |first1=Allan |title=Jewish Fundamentalism: An Old Problem Re-emerges |journal=Jane's Terrorism & Security Monitor |date=February 2002 |pages=12–15}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Anti-Zionism]]
* [[The Bible and violence]]
* [[Biblical criticism]]
* [[Criticism of the Bible]]
* [[Criticism of Israel]]
* [[Criticism of Judaism]]
* [[Far-right politics in Israel]]
* [[Gush Emunim]]
* [[Halachic state]]
* [[Jewish Defense League]]
* [[Jewish Defense Organization]]
* [[Jewish extremist terrorism]]
* [[Hardal anti-Zionism]]
* [[Jewish religious movements]]
* [[Jewish schisms]]
* [[Jewish views on religious pluralism]]
* [[Judaism and politics]]
* [[Judaism and violence]]
* [[Lev Tahor]]
* [[Meir Kahane]]
** [[Kach (political party)]]
** [[Kahanism]]
* [[Noahidism]]
* [[Racism in Israel]]
* [[Racism in Jewish communities]]
* [[Shas]]
* [[Sikrikim]]
* [[The Temple Institute]]
* [[Zealots]]
** [[Sicarii]]
* [[Zionist political violence]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
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* {{cite book |surname=Aran |given=Gideon |chapter=Jewish Zionist Fundamentalism: The Bloc of the Faithful in Israel (Gush Emunim) |chapter-url={{Google books|id=qd5yzP5hdiEC|plainurl=y|page=265|keywords=|text=}} |editor-surname=Marty |editor-given=Martin E. |editor-link=Martin E. Marty |editor-surname2=Appleby |editor-given2=R. Scott |editor-link2=R. Scott Appleby |year=1991 |title=Fundamentalisms Observed |series=[[Fundamentalism Project|The Fundamentalism Project]], 1 |place=Chicago, Il; London |publisher=University of Chicago Press |pages=265–344 |url={{Google books|id=qd5yzP5hdiEC|plainurl=y|page=}} |isbn=0-226-50878-1}}
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* {{cite book |surname=Liebman |given=Charles S. |authorlink=Charles Liebman |chapter=Jewish Fundamentalism and the Israeli Polity |editor-surname=Marty |editor-given=Martin E. |editor-link=Martin E. Marty |editor-surname2=Appleby |editor-given2=R. Scott |editor-link2=R. Scott Appleby |title=Fundamentalisms and the State: Remaking Polities, Economies, and Militance |series=[[Fundamentalism Project|The Fundamentalism Project]], 3 |place=Chicago, Il; London |year=1993 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |chapter-url={{Google books|id=doCmVaOnh_wC|plainurl=y|page=68|keywords=|text=}} |url={{Google books|id=doCmVaOnh_wC|plainurl=y}} |pages=68–87 |isbn=0-226-50883-8}}
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* {{cite book |surname=Selengut |given=Charles |chapter=By Torah Alone: Yeshiva Fundamentalism in Jewish Life |editor-surname=Marty |editor-given=Martin E. |editor-link=Martin E. Marty |editor-surname2=Appleby |editor-given2=R. Scott |editor-link2=R. Scott Appleby |title=Accounting for Fundamentalisms: The Dynamic Character of Movements |series=[[Fundamentalism Project|The Fundamentalism Project]], 4 |place=Chicago, Il; London |year=1994 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |chapter-url={{Google books|id=XTDteHrDgfAC|plainurl=y|page=236|keywords=|text=}} |url={{Google books|id=XTDteHrDgfAC|plainurl=y}} |pages=236– |isbn=0-226-50885-4}}
* {{cite book |editor-surname = Silberstein |editor-given = Laurence J. |title = Jewish Fundamentalism in Comparative Perspective |place = New York |publisher = NYU Press |year=1993 |url={{Google books|id=bmYTCgAAQBAJ|plainurl=y|page=}} |isbn=978-0-8147-7967-5}}
* {{cite book |surname=Soloveitchik |given=Haym |authorlink=Haym Soloveitchik |chapter=Migration, Acculturation, and the New Role of Texts in the Haredi Worid |editor-surname=Marty |editor-given=Martin E. |editor-link=Martin E. Marty |editor-surname2=Appleby |editor-given2=R. Scott |editor-link2=R. Scott Appleby |title=Accounting for Fundamentalisms: The Dynamic Character of Movements |series=[[Fundamentalism Project|The Fundamentalism Project]], 4 |place=Chicago, Il; London |year=1994 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |chapter-url={{Google books|id=XTDteHrDgfAC|plainurl=y|page=197|keywords=|text=}} |url={{Google books|id=XTDteHrDgfAC|plainurl=y}} |pages=197–235 |isbn=0-226-50885-4}}
* {{cite journal |last=Yuval-Davis |first=Nira |title=The Personal Is Political: Jewish Fundamentalism and Women's Empowerment |journal=Religious Fundamentalisms and the Human Rights of Women |date=1999 |pages=33–42 |doi=10.1057/9780230107380_4 |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230107380_4 |access-date=8 July 2021 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan US |isbn=978-0-312-29306-2}}
* {{cite journal |last=Dorraj |first=Manochehr |title=The Crisis of Modernity and Religious Revivalism: A Comparative Study of Islamic Fundamentalism, Jewish Fundamentalism and Liberation Theology |journal=Social Compass |date=18 August 2016 |volume=46 |issue=2 |pages=225–240 |doi=10.1177/003776899046002011 |s2cid=143258227 |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/003776899046002011 |access-date=8 July 2021}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sas.upenn.edu/penncip/lustick/ Land and the Lord: Jewish Fundamentalism in Israel] at [[University of Pennsylvania]]
* [http://www.washington-report.org/backissues/0300/0003105.html Washington Report: Jewish fundamentalism]

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[[Category:Jewish fundamentalism| ]]
[[Category:Orthodox Judaism]]