A Paradoxical Powerhouse: The Rise of Haredi Feminism in Israel

This talk examines the emergence of a revolutionary and novel feminist movement within Israel’s Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) community; a highly conservative, illiberal, and relatively insular religious community committed to upholding specific traditions and strict gender roles. In recent decades, haredi society in Israel has been shaped by profound political, economic, and social changes. Gender relations are a central site of contention and transformation, affecting haredi society and its interactions with Israel writ large. Feminist haredi activists, invested in championing women’s rights while remaining within a collectivist conformist society and conservative tradition, push for the reimagination of individual lives, communal structures, and Israeli society.