Yiddish among Former Haredim

Abstract

This article examines the use of and attitudes towards Yiddish among former Haredim. Using an interview- and questionnaire-based study, I demonstrate that Yiddish- speaking former Haredim generally have positive attitudes towards the language and continue to use it on a frequent, and even daily, basis while hoping to pass it on to their children. Furthermore, attitudes towards Yiddish develop from being largely practical when respondents were members of Haredi communities to emotional and ideological after having left. However, in the majority of cases the desire to continue using Yiddish regularly and to pass it on to the next generation is in conflict with the practical realities of finding opportunities to do so under increased pressure from the local majority language and a lack of institutional and community support. Overall, I argue that former Haredim have the power to determine the future life, death, or resurrection of secular Yiddish.