Moderate Ultra-Orthodoxy: Complexity and Nuance in American Ultra-Orthodox Judaism

Abstract

This article explores the changing nature of American ultra-Orthodox Judaism. Recent sociological accounts have asserted that Orthodox Judaism in America has moved towards the “right,” that is, toward a more fundamentalist and enclavist orientation. This article addresses this claim using a combination of demographic survey data and qualitative interviews drawn from community members affiliated with 3 ultra-Orthodox boys’ elementary schools. I argue for a more complex understanding of this development: while American Orthodoxy may indeed be “sliding to the right,” this has likely had the effect of moderating rather than radicalizing ultra-Orthodox communities.