They’re often labeled “ultra-Orthodox,” portrayed as fanatics, freeloaders, or relics of another century. But those headlines miss what actually defines Israel’s Haredi community. This video goes inside a society shaped by history, faith, and survival—exploring why Haredim live as they do, what they value most, and why misunderstanding them has become one of Israel’s deepest internal fault lines.
0:00 – Intro
0:54 – What “Haredi” Means
2:24 – Ultra-Orthodox Rules
3:43 – Haredi Origins
5:50 – The Jewish Enlightenment
8:33 – Ultra-Orthodox in Israel
9:41 – Haredi Dress Code
11:16 – Myths vs Reality
12:27 – Ultra-Orthodox Women
15:22 – The Army Debate
17:06 – Giving Back
18:04 – Haredi & Secular Israelis
Sources
Cahaner, Lee & Gilad Malach, Statistical Report on Ultra-Orthodox Society in Israel, Israel Democracy Institute
Petrovsky-Shtern, Yohanan, “Military Service in Russia,” YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe
Etkes, Immanuel, “Haskalah,” YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe (trans. Jeffrey Green)
Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein, personal interview
Chana Irom, personal interview
Riki Dunner, personal interview
Lidman, Melanie, “As Ultra-Orthodox Women Bring Home the Bacon, Don’t Say the F-Word,” Times of Israel
Newman, Marissa, “Ultra-Orthodox Educator, Road Safety Crusader Win Israel Prize,” Times of Israel
Newman, Marissa, “Shas Spiritual Leader: Women Shouldn’t Go to College,” Times of Israel
Rosenbaum, Alan, “Unity in Action: How Israel’s Haredi Community Has Joined to Help the Home Front,” Jerusalem Post
Silver, Rivki, “Iron Sisters,” Mishpacha Magazine
Neuer, Batsheva, “Sisters of Iron and Coders in Black Hats: Haredi Integration and the War Against Hamas,” Jewish Review of Books
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Image and footage credits:
Getty Images
USHMM
Yad Vashem
———–
Executive Producers:
Michael Steinhardt
Co-Executive Producers:
Marc Shmuel Levine
Iris & Shalom Maidenbaum
Gold Level:
The Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life
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Translation credits:
Portuguese: Saymon Pires
About Explainers: From ancient Jewish traditions to the modern State of Israel, we explain it all. Diving into anything and everything related to Jewish culture, history, and even religion.
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About Unpacked: We provide nuanced insights by unpacking all things Jewish. People are complex and complicated — yet we’re constantly being pushed to oversimplify our world. At Unpacked we know that being complex makes us more interesting. Because of this, we break the world down with nuance and insight to drive your curiosity and challenge your thinking.
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