The Media Challenge to Haredi Rabbinic Authority in Israel (Le DéFi MéDiatique À L'Autorité Rabbinique Haredi En IsraëL)

ESSACHESS. Journal for Communication Studies, vol. 10, no. 2(20) 2017: 113-128

16 Pages Posted: 27 Feb 2018

See all articles by Yoel Cohen

Yoel Cohen

Ariel University - School of Communication

Date Written: December 01, 2017

Abstract

English Abstract: Haredim, or ultra-orthodox Jews, live in cultural ghettos, withdrawn from the influences of modern life. To strengthen the hand of Haredi rabbis against their members being influenced by the outside media, institutional Haredi dailies newspapers were created by these rabbis - becoming in effect mouthpieces to their flock.Over the last thirty years an alternative Haredi media has evolved inside Israel - comprising independent weekly magazines, Haredi news websites, and Haredi radio stations - which have challenged the rule of Haredi rabbis. The challenge reached a peak with rabbinical bans on the Internet not adhered to by a considerable segment of the Haredi community. Today, many Haredim have computers and some of these have Internet. One of the major results is a loss of Haredi rabbinical hegemony. The article draws upon a survey of Haredi rabbis in Israel carried out by the author.

French Abstract: Les Haredim, ou juifs ultra-orthodoxes, vivent dans des ghettos culturels, soustraits aux influences de la vie moderne. Les médias haredi ont évolué au cours des trente dernières années à l'intérieur d'Israël - des magazines hebdomadaires indépendants, des reportages Haredi et des stations de radio Haredi – sont nés et ont remis en question la loi des rabbins Haredi. Le défi a atteint un sommet avec les interdictions rabbiniques sur Internet non respectées par un segment prévenant de la communauté Haredi. Aujourd'hui beaucoup de Haredim ont des ordinateurs et certains d'entre eux ont Internet. L’un des principaux effets est la perte de l'hégémonie rabbinique hébraïque. L'article met ce résultat en évidence. Pour ce faire il s’appuie sur une enquête menée par l'auteur qui porte sur les rabbins haredi en Israël.

Keywords: Haredim, rabbis, mass media, computers, Internet

Suggested Citation

Cohen, Yoel, The Media Challenge to Haredi Rabbinic Authority in Israel (Le DéFi MéDiatique À L'Autorité Rabbinique Haredi En IsraëL) (December 01, 2017). ESSACHESS. Journal for Communication Studies, vol. 10, no. 2(20) 2017: 113-128, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3124458

Yoel Cohen (Contact Author)

Ariel University - School of Communication ( email )

Ariel
Israel

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