In July 2015, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man attacked six people with a knife during an
LGBT parade in Israel. Jews and Israelis worldwide denounced the attack as a quote “despicable
hate crime," attributed to religious extremism. In fact, a 2006 poll by an Israeli nonprofit
found that ultra-Orthodox Jews were the most hated group in Israel by a wide margin. So,
why do Israelis hate Orthodox Jews?
Well, despite Judaism being one of the world’s oldest religions, an overwhelming majority
of Jews are secular, and non-religious. Unlike most countries with a distinct cultural and
religious majority, Israel doesn’t even have an official religion. Despite the word
“Orthodox” generally referring to long standing traditionalist groups, the modern
Jewish Orthodoxy is barely a century old. Around the late 1800s, Jews began to view
themselves as a cultural group, rather than a religious one, stressing morality through
education and family. This shift left many religious Jews adhering to two opposing camps,
one called Modern Orthodoxy, the other called Haredi Judaism. Modern Orthodoxy preaches
inclusion and involvement in secular, scientific, and cultural Jewish movements, and supports
the Israeli state. Most religious Jews around the world fall into this first category.
However, Haredi Judaism is marked by a traditionalist ultra-religious rejection of modern secularism.
Most people who represent this form, including the LGBT attacker, are called “Hasidic,"
and are religious fundamentalists. Hasids are most commonly identified by their religious
garb, including black clothing and fur hats. What’s interesting is that Hasids don’t
only oppose modern secular Jews, but have ALWAYS opposed the creation of an Israeli
state. But, why would ultra-religious Jews oppose a Jewish state?
Well, first and foremost, ultra-Orthodox Jews take a literal view of the Torah, which says
that Jews cannot claim their own state until the Messiah returns to grant it to them. The
Haredi have also argued that a secular state would diminish the religious influence of
Judaism. Much of Israeli law actually directly conflicts with religious law, particularly
in regard to women’s rights. This is no surprise, considering that over 40% of Israeli
Jews are secular, while only 8% are ultra-Orthodox.
When Israel was created, a religious exemption for military service was established as a
compromise for Haredi Jews, who opposed supporting the nation of Israel. For decades this policy
has been considered unfair. In 2014 it was overturned, leading to mass protests by the
ultra-Orthodox. Due to these tensions, a recent poll found that Haredi Jews were the most
hated group in Israel. And this trend is not just in Israel. New York City hosts the largest
Jewish community in the world outside of Israel, and ultra-Orthodox Jews are similarly disliked,
both by Jews and non-Jews. Some suggest this is due to the insular nature of the ultra-Orthodox,
and the often times belligerent disregard for secular laws and customs.
Essentially, Jewish extremists are condemned by nearly every portion of Jewish society,
and are distinctly separated from everyday cultural Judaism. So why do Israelis hate
ultra-Orthodox Jews? Because like nearly all other religious fundamentalists, they’re
behind the times, and aren’t getting what they want.
For a closer look at what Jewish Orthodoxy actually is, check out this video from Seeker
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