A Well-Worn Tallis for a New Ceremony: Trends in Israeli Haredi Culture

'A Well-Worn Tallis for a New Ceremony' is a study of contemporary ultra- Orthodox religiosity in Israel. Throughout the pages of this book, Nurit Stadler analyzes the ongoing reconstruction of Haredi culture in the Jewish state - a process which has been spurred on by the challenges of modernity, the worldwide resurgence of religion, and the strong sway of Israeliness. Despite its founders' and present leadership's long-standing efforts to cultivate and buttress an enclave community, various modern trends and state institutions, such as secularization, consumerism, feminism, and the military, are having a profound impact on the yeshiva world. More specifically, modernity is making inroads into Israel's Haredi "ghetto" and transforming many aspects of the group's everyday life. Over the course of her extended research on this community, Stadler has discerned changes in several key areas: religious life, family structure, and the sector's interface with government authorities and the rest of the populace. A Well-Worn Tallis for a New Ceremony sheds light on all of these developments.