Jewish fundamentalism

Jewish fundamentalism (Hebrew: ) refers to fundamentalism in the context of Judaism. The term fundamentalism was originally used in reference to Christian fundamentalism, a Protestant movement emphasizing biblical literalism. Today, it is commonly used more generally in reference to movements that oppose modernist, liberal, and ecumenical tendencies in society and their own religion and is often coupled with extremist ideologies and/or political movements. This is important in the Jewish context because the two movements most commonly associated with Jewish fundamentalism, Religious Zionism and Haredi Judaism, stray far from biblical literalism due to the importance of Oral Law within Judaism. In fact, Karaism, the Jewish movement most known for biblical literalism, is rarely considered fundamentalist.
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 most broadly associated with Jewish fundamentalism, differ in significant ways and have historically been opposed to each other (though recently there has been more overlap with the rise of the Hardal movement). Religious Zionism is more associated with political extremism while Haredi Judaism is associated with anti-modernism and maintaining control over women by men and patriarchal family structures.
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. 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. Haredi Jews regard themselves as the most religiously authentic group of Jews, but other movements of Judaism disagree.
Religious Zionism
Religious Zionism is an ideology that combines Zionism and Orthodox Judaism. It began primarily with the teachings of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, who saw Zionism as part of a divine scheme to return Jews to their homeland and eventually bring about the coming of the Messiah. Religious Zionism gained a new force after Six-Day War in 1967, when Israel conquered the West Bank, a territory rich in Biblical history. The Gush Emunim movement took off under the leadership of Tzvi Yehudah Kook and spearheaded the proliferation of Israeli settlements in the newly conquered territory.
Religious Zionism is still a relatively broad term encompassing both moderate and extreme elements. The extremist elements are often associated with anti-Arab racism and violence, often with ideological inspiration from Kahanism. They have been associated with Jewish religious terrorism against both Palestinians and, in some cases, the Israel Defense Forces. The Hilltop Youth movement is especially associated with the most extremist forms of Religious Zionism.
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.
See also
Gush Emunim
Halachic state
Jewish Defense League
Jewish Defense Organization
Jewish religious terrorism
Judaism and violence
Lev Tahor
Meir Kahane
Kach (political party)
Kahanism
Noahidism
Sikrikim
The Temple Institute
Zealots
Sicarii
Zionist political violence
References
Bibliography
External links
Land and the Lord: Jewish Fundamentalism in Israel at University of Pennsylvania
Washington Report: Jewish fundamentalism
Orthodox Judaism