Category Archives: Original Articles

Prof. Gideon Aran: The Nakedness of The Haredim

There was no feeling that the nakedness of the Haredim was accompanied by any particular tension. A certain degree of haste while in the nude was observed, but we can easily explain this in terms of time pressure, and not … Continue reading

Posted in body, Judaism, Original Articles, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Prof. Gideon Aran: The Nakedness of The Haredim

Institutionalized Public Undressing – The mikveh

It is most surprising to find institutionalized public undressing at the heart of Haredi community. The Haredi is exposed both symbolically and literally at the mikveh, the Jewish purifying bath, prescribed in the Halacha with a detailed explication of the … Continue reading

Posted in body, Judaism, Original Articles | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Institutionalized Public Undressing – The mikveh

Kookism: The roots of Gush Emunim – Preface Part 3

In order to conduct my research I accompanied the followers of Gush-Emunim wherever they decided to go. I looked at them closely, had lengthy talks with them and thoroughly read the materials they had memorized by heart. Written By Prof. Gideon … Continue reading

Posted in KOOKISM, Original Articles | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Kookism: The roots of Gush Emunim – Preface Part 3

Don’t let The Mirror Peep At Your Body

There are restrictions on nudity even when alone. For instance, Haredim mention that in the toilet a Jew should “expose a little and cover up even more”; an oft-quoted story is told of an exemplary character from the period of … Continue reading

Posted in body, Original Articles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Don’t let The Mirror Peep At Your Body

Nudity Is No Trivial Matter

Nudity is no trivial matter. For most cultures, including Haredi society, it is a sensitive affair. We can see this from the centrality and gravity of the Jewish laws and customs that deal with exposure of the body in general, … Continue reading

Posted in body, Original Articles | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Nudity Is No Trivial Matter

Notes on Haredi Physicality – The hair

It is a commonplace in anthropological literature that hair on the head and face is an effective symbolic medium for expressing identity and changes in identity, especially because it is immediately noticeable and easy to manipulate. Hair is a familiar … Continue reading

Posted in body, Original Articles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Notes on Haredi Physicality – The hair

Notes on Haredi Physicality – In The Nude

All clothing, and much more so a peculiar uniform like that worn by the Haredim, has a straightjacket effect on its wearer, as it restricts and defines his consciousness and behavior. This includes the influence of clothing on body language … Continue reading

Posted in body, Judaism, Original Articles | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Notes on Haredi Physicality – In The Nude

Prof. Gideon Aran: Body and Society – Male Body and Religious Body

In the past decade or two, writing about the human body has become a flourishing industry in the social sciences and humanities. A rich literature has accumulated on the Body and Society, including on the male body, and the religious … Continue reading

Posted in body, Content Type, Original Articles | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Prof. Gideon Aran: Body and Society – Male Body and Religious Body

Prof. Gideon Aran – Yeshiva Mizrachit And The Haredi Body

Yeshiva mizrachit is hegemonic. Of course, not everybody adopts it, and there are those who positively reject it. Certain groups of Jewish citizens from the pre-state yishuv, as well from today’s state, can be singled out for not practicing yeshiva … Continue reading

Posted in Judaism, Original Articles | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Prof. Gideon Aran – Yeshiva Mizrachit And The Haredi Body

Gideon Aran – Sitting Posture, Native Israeliness and Ultra-Orthodoxy

American readers of a certain age will no doubt have come across this phenomenon at the time of the ‘flower children’, and it still may be possible to find it in enclaves of 1960s sub-culture, or among New Age holdouts. … Continue reading

Posted in Content Type, Judaism, Original Articles | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Gideon Aran – Sitting Posture, Native Israeliness and Ultra-Orthodoxy