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| {{infobox organization | {{infobox organization | ||
| | name = Nahamu | | name = Nahamu | ||
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| | publisher = | | publisher = | ||
| | id = }}</ref> | | id = }}</ref> | ||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| There are approximately 75,000 Haredi Jews in Britain, mainly located in ], ], and ], with smaller communities establishing themselves in ], and ], both in Essex.<ref name= |
There are approximately 75,000 Haredi Jews in Britain, mainly located in ], ], and ], with smaller communities establishing themselves in ], and ], both in Essex.<ref name="IJPR">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejc.com/judaism/the-rise-and-rise-of-the-strictly-orthodox-qj6x5fxn|title=Four out of every ten British Jews in 2040 will be Charedi|first=Simon|last=Rocker|website=www.thejc.com}}</ref> An interlinked series of institutions and affiliated groups with shared values, rather than a single denomination, Haredi Jews are characterised by their strict adherence to their interpretation of ] and a rejection of ]. Although the Haredim have been living in Britain since the nineteenth century (the ] being founded in 1926, Haredi population was boosted substantially by refugees from and survivors of ] and ]. Absence of intermarriage coupled with both a high birth and retention rate spur rapid growth of the Haredi population, which is on pace to more than double every 20 years. Haredi Jews are currently 25% of the Jewish population in the UK, and are projected to form 40% by 2040 according to research by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research.<ref name="IJPR"/> | ||
| An insular religious community with a long history of persecution, the Haredi Jewish community has been subject to criticism for its reluctance to engage with UK laws and regulations, in particular in regards to their approach to education, |
An insular religious community with a long history of persecution, the Haredi Jewish community has been subject to criticism for its reluctance to engage with UK laws and regulations, in particular in regards to their approach to education, women's rights, children's rights, and religious coercion. Efforts to engage the Haredi community on these subjects are often met with public protests and allegations of antisemitism.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Noncompliance with the law as institutional maintenance at ultra-religious schools|first1=Lotem|last1=Perry-Hazan|first2=Netta|last2=Barak-Corren|first3=Gil|last3=Nachmani|date=January 5, 2024|journal=Regulation & Governance|volume=18|issue=2|pages=612–636|doi=10.1111/rego.12545|doi-access=free}}</ref> | ||
| Nahamu was co-founded by Yehudis Fletcher and Eve Sacks and other Orthodox Jews. The daughter of an Orthodox rabbi, Yehudis Fletcher grew up in the Haredi community and was married into the ] order at the age of 18. After several years of her reports of sexual abuse by her teacher Todros Grynhaus being ignored by Jewish authorities, her testimony in court led to his conviction and sentencing to thirteen years in prison in May 2015. Eve Sacks, a prominent Orthodox feminist campaigner who co-founded the UK branch of the ], met Yehudis at blah. In 2019, they launched Nahamu as an organisation advised by ] a Jewish ], and ], a former Islamist and anti-religious extremism campaigner. Their initial board of directors included David Taube, a barrister and |
Nahamu was co-founded by Yehudis Fletcher and Eve Sacks and other Orthodox Jews. The daughter of an Orthodox rabbi, Yehudis Fletcher grew up in the Haredi community and was married into the ] order at the age of 18. After several years of her reports of sexual abuse by her teacher Todros Grynhaus being ignored by Jewish authorities, her testimony in court led to his conviction and sentencing to thirteen years in prison in May 2015. Eve Sacks, a prominent Orthodox feminist campaigner who co-founded the UK branch of the ], met Yehudis at blah. In 2019, they launched Nahamu as an organisation advised by ] a Jewish ], and ], a former Islamist and anti-religious extremism campaigner. Their initial board of directors included David Taube, a barrister and director of policy at the ] and Daniel Jonas, a Jewish cultural figure and counter-extremism advocate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/group-challenging-extremism-inside-the-community-to-launch-this-month/|title=Group challenging extremism inside the community to launch this month|first=Jack|last=Mendel|date=January 15, 2020|website=Jewish News}}</ref> | ||
| Nahamu has five areas of focus: | Nahamu has five areas of focus: | ||
| Line 49: | Line 46: | ||
| * Denial of education | * Denial of education | ||
| * Coerced criminality | * Coerced criminality | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| In addition to its challenge to the Haredi institutional frameworks, Nahamu also aims to defend the Haredi community and way of life from discrimination and prejudice in the mainstream media and the Jewish community itself. Haredi community leaders have been critical of Nahamu, calling it a “secularist ‘Jewish’ group” and “hostile campaigners against the Chareidi kehillah”<ref name= |
In addition to its challenge to the Haredi institutional frameworks, Nahamu also aims to defend the Haredi community and way of life from discrimination and prejudice in the mainstream media and the Jewish community itself. Haredi community leaders have been critical of Nahamu, calling it a “secularist ‘Jewish’ group” and “hostile campaigners against the Chareidi kehillah”<ref name="Tribune">Gordon, Brian, (August 28, 2019) “JCC lobbies Government on secularist “Jewish” group”, Jewish Tribune</ref> | ||
| ==Forced |
==Forced marriage== | ||
| In 2021, Nahamu published a position paper with the Institute for Jewish Policy Research |
In 2021, Nahamu published a position paper with the Institute for Jewish Policy Research.<ref name="“IJPR paper”=">{{Cite journal |last1=Fletcher |first1=Yehudis |last2=Sacks |first2=Eve |date=2021 |title=Position Paper on Forced Marriage Analysis of Arranged Marriage as Practiced in Jewish Communities |url=https://archive.jpr.org.uk/object-1608 |language=English}}</ref> | ||
| The position paper was welcomed by many |
The position paper was welcomed by many women's rights campaigners and Jewish figures. Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, released a statement that forced marriage is “despicable”.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/02/12/forced-marriage-ultra-orthodox-jewish-community-despicable-says/amp/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212081914/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/02/12/forced-marriage-ultra-orthodox-jewish-community-despicable-says/amp/ | archive-date=12 February 2021 | title=Forced marriage in ultra-Orthodox Jewish community 'despicable', says Boris Johnson }}</ref> The Haredi community reacted negatively, with Chaya Spitz, the CEO of the Interlink Foundation, condemning Nahamu as “stigmatising ultra-Orthodox marriage”,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/how-dare-nahamu-stigmatise-strictly-orthodox-marriage/|title=The Blogs: How dare Nahamu stigmatise strictly-Orthodox marriage|first=Chaya|last=Spitz|website=blogs.timesofisrael.com}}</ref> and engaging with Yehudis Fletcher on a number of media platforms to discuss the views of Haredi leaders.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/programmes/m000s1rm|title=Programmes|website=BBC Food}}</ref> | ||
| The British government subsequently translated their pamphlet on forced marriage into Yiddish in response to these concerns.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/forced-marriage-advice-to-be-translated-into-yiddish-for-charedi-women/|title=Forced marriage advice to be translated into Yiddish for Charedi women|first=Joshua|last=Salisbury|date=June 23, 2021|website=Jewish News}}</ref> | The British government subsequently translated their pamphlet on forced marriage into Yiddish in response to these concerns.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/forced-marriage-advice-to-be-translated-into-yiddish-for-charedi-women/|title=Forced marriage advice to be translated into Yiddish for Charedi women|first=Joshua|last=Salisbury|date=June 23, 2021|website=Jewish News}}</ref> | ||
| ==Denial of |
==Denial of education== | ||
| In 2024, Nahamu published their second position paper, on the lack of secular education, including the teaching of English, in the Haredi school system and calling for greater regulation and for illegal private educational institutions in the Haredi community to be shut down.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejc.com/community/lack-of-secular-education-in-charedi-schools-sparks-call-for-stricter-regulation-mwrsyhgg|title= |
In 2024, Nahamu published their second position paper, on the lack of secular education, including the teaching of English, in the Haredi school system and calling for greater regulation and for illegal private educational institutions in the Haredi community to be shut down.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejc.com/community/lack-of-secular-education-in-charedi-schools-sparks-call-for-stricter-regulation-mwrsyhgg|title='Lack' of secular education in Charedi schools sparks call for stricter regulation|first=Jane|last=Prinsley|website=www.thejc.com}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | ==Personal autonomy== | ||
| ⚫ | In 2021, Yehudis Fletcher challenged Jewish comedian ], who had posted disparaging comments about the Haredi community following reports of widespread disregard of COVID-19 lockdown regulations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/david-baddiel-stupid-f-frummers-comment-was-authentic-frustration/|title=David Baddiel: 'Stupid f****** frummers' comment was 'authentic frustration'|first=Jack|last=Mendel|date=February 1, 2021|website=Jewish News}}</ref> Fletcher argued that the Haredi community is often othered by mainstream Jewry but they are as much a part of the British Jewish community as secular Jews like Baddiel and their concerns should be taken seriously. Baddiel and Fletcher's dialogue on Twitter resulted in a public debate at JW3 that was streamed online and attended by over 1,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/charedim-othered-by-rest-of-community-campaigner-tells-david-baddiel/|title=Charedim 'othered' by rest of community, campaigner tells David Baddiel|first=Jack|last=Mendel|date=March 25, 2021|website=Jewish News}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | ==Personal |
||
| ⚫ | Nahamu has been critical of the impact of the Haredim community's policy against allowing Haredi women to drive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/opinion-why-are-all-these-women-still-not-allowed-to-drive/|title=OPINION: Why are all these women still not allowed to drive?|first=Michelle|last=Rosenberg|date=March 8, 2023|website=Jewish News}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | In 2021, Yehudis Fletcher challenged Jewish comedian ], who had posted disparaging comments about the Haredi community following reports of widespread disregard of |
||
| ⚫ | Nahamu has been critical of the impact of the Haredim |
||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| Line 86: | Line 81: | ||
| * | * | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Latest revision as of 13:44, 15 January 2025
| Formation | 2019; 6 years ago (2019) |
|---|---|
| Type | think tank |
| Fields | Haredi Judaism, counter-extremism, human rights |
| Leader | Yehudis Fletcher |
| Website | Nahamu.org |
Nahamu (“Comfort”) is a British think-tank which campaigns against religious extremism in the Haredi Jewish community. It was founded in 2019 by Orthodox Jews concerned that coercive practices in the Haredi community were being ignored due to secular concerns around cultural sensitivity.
Nahamu acts as a thinktank aiming to engage policy-makers and influence both government and community leaders in areas such as forced marriage and safeguarding practices in community institutions. It works with other organisations such as Mavar and Gesher EU to assist Haredi Jews who wish to leave the community, but primarily seeks to improve the living conditions and welfare of Jewish people who choose to remain in their existing communities. Founder Yehudis Fletcher, who continues to identify as Haredim, has stated, “I’m not threatening to leave , I’m threatening to stay.”
History
There are approximately 75,000 Haredi Jews in Britain, mainly located in London, Manchester, and Gateshead, with smaller communities establishing themselves in Canvey Island, and Westcliff, both in Essex. An interlinked series of institutions and affiliated groups with shared values, rather than a single denomination, Haredi Jews are characterised by their strict adherence to their interpretation of Jewish law and a rejection of secularism. Although the Haredim have been living in Britain since the nineteenth century (the Union of Hebrew Congregations being founded in 1926, Haredi population was boosted substantially by refugees from and survivors of Soviet persecution and the Holocaust. Absence of intermarriage coupled with both a high birth and retention rate spur rapid growth of the Haredi population, which is on pace to more than double every 20 years. Haredi Jews are currently 25% of the Jewish population in the UK, and are projected to form 40% by 2040 according to research by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research.
An insular religious community with a long history of persecution, the Haredi Jewish community has been subject to criticism for its reluctance to engage with UK laws and regulations, in particular in regards to their approach to education, women's rights, children's rights, and religious coercion. Efforts to engage the Haredi community on these subjects are often met with public protests and allegations of antisemitism.
Nahamu was co-founded by Yehudis Fletcher and Eve Sacks and other Orthodox Jews. The daughter of an Orthodox rabbi, Yehudis Fletcher grew up in the Haredi community and was married into the Satmar order at the age of 18. After several years of her reports of sexual abuse by her teacher Todros Grynhaus being ignored by Jewish authorities, her testimony in court led to his conviction and sentencing to thirteen years in prison in May 2015. Eve Sacks, a prominent Orthodox feminist campaigner who co-founded the UK branch of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, met Yehudis at blah. In 2019, they launched Nahamu as an organisation advised by Adam Wagner a Jewish human rights lawyer, and Rashad Ali, a former Islamist and anti-religious extremism campaigner. Their initial board of directors included David Taube, a barrister and director of policy at the Quilliam Foundation and Daniel Jonas, a Jewish cultural figure and counter-extremism advocate.
Nahamu has five areas of focus:
- Forced marriage
- Sexual abuse
- Denial of education
- Coerced criminality
- Personal autonomy
In addition to its challenge to the Haredi institutional frameworks, Nahamu also aims to defend the Haredi community and way of life from discrimination and prejudice in the mainstream media and the Jewish community itself. Haredi community leaders have been critical of Nahamu, calling it a “secularist ‘Jewish’ group” and “hostile campaigners against the Chareidi kehillah”
Forced marriage
In 2021, Nahamu published a position paper with the Institute for Jewish Policy Research.
The position paper was welcomed by many women's rights campaigners and Jewish figures. Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, released a statement that forced marriage is “despicable”. The Haredi community reacted negatively, with Chaya Spitz, the CEO of the Interlink Foundation, condemning Nahamu as “stigmatising ultra-Orthodox marriage”, and engaging with Yehudis Fletcher on a number of media platforms to discuss the views of Haredi leaders.
The British government subsequently translated their pamphlet on forced marriage into Yiddish in response to these concerns.
Denial of education
In 2024, Nahamu published their second position paper, on the lack of secular education, including the teaching of English, in the Haredi school system and calling for greater regulation and for illegal private educational institutions in the Haredi community to be shut down.
Personal autonomy
In 2021, Yehudis Fletcher challenged Jewish comedian David Baddiel, who had posted disparaging comments about the Haredi community following reports of widespread disregard of COVID-19 lockdown regulations. Fletcher argued that the Haredi community is often othered by mainstream Jewry but they are as much a part of the British Jewish community as secular Jews like Baddiel and their concerns should be taken seriously. Baddiel and Fletcher's dialogue on Twitter resulted in a public debate at JW3 that was streamed online and attended by over 1,000 people.
Nahamu has been critical of the impact of the Haredim community's policy against allowing Haredi women to drive.
See also
- Mavar - British Jewish organisation helping Haredi Jews to leave Judaism
- Off the derech - Orthodox Jewish term for Orthodox Jews who become irreligious
- Religious extremism
- Get refusal - abuse of Jewish religious laws of divorce
References
- Fletcher, Yehudis (21 December 2024), "Sharp Elbows? Or Shoulders to Lean On: Narratives of High Control Communities", Limmud Festival, Birmingham, UK
{{citation}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Rocker, Simon. "Four out of every ten British Jews in 2040 will be Charedi". www.thejc.com.
- Perry-Hazan, Lotem; Barak-Corren, Netta; Nachmani, Gil (January 5, 2024). "Noncompliance with the law as institutional maintenance at ultra-religious schools". Regulation & Governance. 18 (2): 612–636. doi:10.1111/rego.12545.
- Mendel, Jack (January 15, 2020). "Group challenging extremism inside the community to launch this month". Jewish News.
- Gordon, Brian, (August 28, 2019) “JCC lobbies Government on secularist “Jewish” group”, Jewish Tribune
- Fletcher, Yehudis; Sacks, Eve (2021). "Position Paper on Forced Marriage Analysis of Arranged Marriage as Practiced in Jewish Communities".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - "Forced marriage in ultra-Orthodox Jewish community 'despicable', says Boris Johnson". Archived from the original on 12 February 2021.
- Spitz, Chaya. "The Blogs: How dare Nahamu stigmatise strictly-Orthodox marriage". blogs.timesofisrael.com.
- "Programmes". BBC Food.
- Salisbury, Joshua (June 23, 2021). "Forced marriage advice to be translated into Yiddish for Charedi women". Jewish News.
- Prinsley, Jane. "'Lack' of secular education in Charedi schools sparks call for stricter regulation". www.thejc.com.
- Mendel, Jack (February 1, 2021). "David Baddiel: 'Stupid f****** frummers' comment was 'authentic frustration'". Jewish News.
- Mendel, Jack (March 25, 2021). "Charedim 'othered' by rest of community, campaigner tells David Baddiel". Jewish News.
- Rosenberg, Michelle (March 8, 2023). "OPINION: Why are all these women still not allowed to drive?". Jewish News.