10.17192/mjr.2009.14.3466 Friedmann, Jonathan L. Jonathan L. Friedmann Walking With God: Realism, Fanaticism, and the Future of Jewish Law Marburg Journal of Religion : Vol 14 No 1 (2009) Philipps-Universität Marburg 2009 Judentum modern orthodoxy realism moderne Orthodoxy Fanatismus fanaticism Gesetz Relalismus law judaism Institute for Comparative Cultural Research - Study of Religions and Anthropology 2017-12-14 2015-04-28 en JournalArticle https://journals.uni-marburg.de/0004/2009/111/3466 urn:nbn:de:hebis:04-0004-2009-111-34669 https://doi.org/10.17192/mjr.2009.14.1 https://journals.uni-marburg.de/0004/2009/111/3466/3466.png 1612-2941 application/pdf Since the mid-twentieth century, converging factors have enabled haredi (“ultra-orthodox”) Jews to exert considerable influence on more moderate forms of observant Judaism. In the area of Jewish law, this has led to a shift from rabbinic realism, characterized by contextual and lenient rulings, to fanaticism, which views stringency as the only authentic mode of Jewish legal interpretation. This paper examines two historically moderate communities particularly affected by haredization: modern Orthodoxy in America and Sephardic Judaism in Israel. From these case studies, it will become clear that without significant efforts to revive and promote a middle-of-the-road approach, observant Judaism will continue to be dominated by fundamentalist views. 1612-2941 Marburg Journal of Religion Vol 14 No 1 (2009)