Disaffiliation from Jewish Ultra-Orthodox Communities: Life Trajectories Shaped by the Axes of Rigidity–Fluidity and Alterity–Inclusion

Abstract

Increasing numbers of young Israelis annually leave the enclave of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. Relying on 16 in-depth interviews, we examine the effects of this disaffiliation on life trajectories and identity reconstruction of individuals who left their society of origin two decades ago. This unveiled a multistep longitudinal process, characterized by moving in and out of various structural stages, coupled with disaffiliates’ agency to highlight specific sociocultural characteristics or the more universal nature of the human condition. The life course of disaffiliates begins with a phase of early struggle with the immediate tolls of disaffiliation, followed by a formative period marked by two steps: military service and acquisition of higher education. Here disaffiliates practice adoption of increasingly inclusive identities, in which the past and present are enmeshed. The formative period is followed by three alternative trajectories: (a) adherence to restrictive Israeli conformity, (b) ongoing search for singularity, and (c) integration of ultra-Orthodox heritage with contemporary Israeli realities. The disaffiliation trajectory from the ultra-Orthodox society is embedded in particular sociocultural, political, and historical contexts. However, narratives of disaffiliates adhere to frameworks of cultural Jewish-Israeli particularism, as much as to those of human universalism, plugging in to certain universal themes of the human condition, namely rigidity, fluidity, alterity, and inclusion.

Barriers to the Healthcare System Faced by Ultra-Orthodox Religious Disaffiliates

“…It may also stem from their strong self-reliance, which they need in order to survive and thrive outside their insular communities, and their individualism. Thus, disaffiliates have no desire to rely on healthcare professionals as it relates to their health and well-being (Velan et al 2022).…”

Enlisting in the army in the Jewish Ultraorthodox community and the consequences for wellbeing

“…The Ultraorthodox resistance to army enlistment lies in the understanding that serving in the IDF will inevitably lead to a loss of rabbinic authority over these young men, and a swift drift away from religious life. Indeed, enlisting in the army is, among Ultraorthodox boys, often the first step in their becoming secular (Velan et al, 2022). Thus, all Ultraorthodox boys are compelled to learn Torah in the yeshiva from a young age until the time they get married (Finkelman, 2011) so as to mold their behavior and keep them in line with the norms and values of Ultraorthodox Judaism (Itzhaki et al, 2018b).…”

“…Similarly, it has been found in numerous studies that leaving religion and being rejected by one's community and friends affects wellbeing (Hookway and Habibis, 2015;Ransom et al, 2021;Thoma et al, 2022). Young Ultraorthodox men enlisting in the army are viewed as being on their way toward becoming less religious (Velan et al, 2022) and are exposed to harsh treatment from family and community because they are seen as defying community norms (Vega, 2016).…”