Total Members Voted: 36
Voting closed: November 28, 2020, 09:03:42 AM
The Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), representing over 1500 traditional rabbis in matters of public policy, today announced the launch of the Ultra Initiative, an outreach effort to urge both Jewish and secular media outlets and others to eliminate usage of the deprecatory term “Ultra-Orthodox” to identify the Haredi (traditional Orthodox) community. The rabbis pointed out that in today’s society, calling groups by demeaning names is universally regarded as hostile and bigoted.“No one calls AOC ‘Ultra Socialist,’ Louis Farrakhan ‘Ultra Racist,’ or Hamas ‘Ultra Terrorist,” said Rabbi Dov Fisher, Western Regional Vice President of the CJV. “In a time of linguistic sensitivity when we carefully refer to demographic groups by their chosen appellations like ‘Native American’ and ‘African-American,’ the time is long overdue for the media to stop using the insulting term ‘Ultra-Orthodox’ when referring to Jews associated with the Hasidic and Lithuanian philosophies of Jewish observance.”The Oxford Dictionary definition of the “ultra” prefix is “extreme.” As a noun, it means “extremist,” as in “ultras in the animal rights movement.” In both cases, the negative connotation is obvious — extreme is only a favorable definition when applied to an inanimate object.Indeed, the term “Ultra-Orthodox” was created by a left-wing politician specifically in order to denigrate Haredi Jews, and it is often used by sharp critics of the Haredi community to cast it in an unflattering light. It is all the more problematic that it is used as the default term by many writers and publications who intend no harm – precisely because that harm is universal and unavoidable.Rabbi Moshe B. Parnes, Southern Regional Vice President of the CJV, is spearheading the Ultra Initiative. “This effort is sorely needed, and benefits all of society,” Rabbi Parnes said. “‘Ultra-Orthodox’ is clearly a pejorative term that connotes extremism and intolerance, and is used especially by those who wish to marginalize the Haredi community and to heap scorn on their religious practices, opinions and sensitivities. Reducing bigotry against Hareidim is part of reducing bigotry against all minorities, and giving all individuals the respect that each person deserves.”
I think its a stupid term, but I really don't give a flying flamingo if someone uses it.
it's good to be a Lubavitcher
Another option: Not personally offended, but support the initiative.
+1. And it's technically not incorrect. Someone who goes above and beyond in hiddurim is "ultra" frum. We wear that badge with pride in the right context. Like everything else in life, it can be used with negative connotation out of context.
When used in the media it is a pejorative. Even if not intended negatively, the way that word is read by those outside the community it is describing will always be in a negative light. Words, even letters, have meaning beyond their literal definitions. They cause certain emotions and have subliminal connotations.
Thanks - my sentiments exactly.But I do disagree with the statement that its "not incorrect." How can you define what makes someone more frum?
Do you have a flying flamingo to give? No, so the reason you are not giving a flying flamingo has nothing to do anyone using the term. Are you a Democrat?
I understand this completely. However, when someone wants to demean you, they will find a way to do it, regardless of what the exact wording is. I'm not about to get hung up over the term du jour.
Being more machmir than halacha requires and taking on additional hiddurim is by definition "extra."
I don't think it means more machmir than halacha. If it does, I know many people who would be identified as ultra orthodox who don't fit that description.
Halacha, chumras, hiddurim and cheesecake have about as much to do with this discussion as the Bubbovitcher Rebbe has to do with Covid
It's 100% superficial. One who looks a certain way is assumed to be of a certain persuasion. The people who look that way generally do pride themselves on a culture of "above and beyond" in Yiddishkeit. That's just getting technical, though. The people using it don't care how religious we are. Like SF said, it's a stupid term, but who gives a flying... flamingo? It's demeaning? So is everything else they've called us for 3000 years. If it's not this, it'll be something else. I prefer this to shylock.
Why do you keep overlooking the point that this is not about those looking for pejoratives?
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