The Haredization of American Orthodoxy

Chaim Waxman has an interesting article in the most recent Edah Journal. Below are excerpts in which he offers explanations and descriptions about the apparent "haredization" of the Orthodox Community. Interesting thoughts. (Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I believe this author is the son-in-law of R. David Lifschitz.)

Some find it ironic that many of the new Orthodox communities, which were developed by Modern Orthodox Jews and reflected Modern Orthodox norms and values, are now abandoning many of those norms and are becoming much more haredi. In part, this is a result of the fact that, with Orthodox communal development, increasing numbers of haredim feel free to move there. This pattern manifests itself in a range of Orthodox communities, such as Boro Park and Flatbush, in Brooklyn, the Five Towns in Nassau County, Monsey in Rockland County, Baltimore, Toronto, and others. But there is much more to the pattern.

As I interpreted the "haredization" of American Orthodoxy, it was due to a number of sociological, ideological and institutional factors, including the higher birth rate among haredim; the more highly organized character of haredi communities, which have clear lines of authority with high degrees of social control; the reactionary tendency of haredim; the haredi dominance over day schools; and the weaker institutional base of Modern Orthodoxy.

They also have a strong sense of ideological self-assuredness; that is, they have no doubts about the correctness of their approaches...

With respect to the "turn to the right" in American Orthodoxy, it was, in large measure, a reflection of the broader turn to the right and rise of fundamentalism in a variety of different countries and continents...

Until now were explanations for the "haredization". Now comes an interesting caveat.

It should be emphasized, however, that part of the haredization of American Orthodoxy was more illusory than real. American Orthodoxy appeared to have been haredized because the haredi element is much more visible than are the Modern Orthodox. Most obviously, the haredim stand out with their unique patterns of dress. The Modern Orthodox, by contrast, look like everyone else. In addition, American haredim, as opposed to their counterparts in Israel, are much more involved with the larger society, and they have not been immune to the impact of American culture - they have a much greater visible presence in every occupational field than do Israeli haredim. They appear to have a particular attraction to the technological areas of computers and communications, precisely the areas that burgeoned during the 1980s and 1990s. As such, increasing numbers of non-haredim became aware of them and came into contact with them, and they appeared to dominate Orthodoxy.

In addition, the very modernity of the Modern Orthodox meant that they were less likely to be affiliated and actively involved with Orthodox communal organizations than are the haredim...

And now for a revelation that is so obvious I don't know how I could not have seen it. I'm sure I intuitively recognized this but there is much to be gained from verbalizing it. I see it even among my (formerly) haredi relatives.

As a result, Modern Orthodoxy has benefited from the growth and acculturation of the haredi community. That is, much as it may not wish to admit it, the haredi community is not immune to the forces of the larger society and culture and there have been defections from it to Modern Orthodoxy. In fact, the increases in the size of the haredi community may also have resulted in greater numbers of those leaving haredism and becoming part of the Modern Orthodox community.