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book: Becoming Frum
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Becoming Frum

How Newcomers Learn the Language and Culture of Orthodox Judaism
Language: English
Published/Copyright: 2012

About this book

Winner, 2013 Sami Rohr Choice Award for Jewish Literature

When non-Orthodox Jews become frum (religious), they encounter much more than dietary laws and Sabbath prohibitions. They find themselves in the midst of a whole new culture, involving matchmakers, homemade gefilte fish, and Yiddish-influenced grammar. Becoming Frum explains how these newcomers learn Orthodox language and culture through their interactions with community veterans and other newcomers. Some take on as much as they can as quickly as they can, going beyond the norms of those raised in the community. Others maintain aspects of their pre-Orthodox selves, yielding unique combinations, like Matisyahu’s reggae music or Hebrew words and sing-song intonation used with American slang, as in “mamish (really) keepin’ it real.”

Sarah Bunin Benor brings insight into the phenomenon of adopting a new identity based on ethnographic and sociolinguistic research among men and women in an American Orthodox community. Her analysis is applicable to other situations of adult language socialization, such as students learning medical jargon or Canadians moving to Australia. Becoming Frum offers a scholarly and accessible look at the linguistic and cultural process of “becoming.”

Author / Editor information

SARAH BUNIN BENOR is an associate professor of contemporary Jewish studies at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion. She has published and lectured widely on sociolinguistics, Jewish languages, and Orthodox Jews.

Reviews

"Benor does a superb job of enhancing our understanding of the complex process of cultural change and language socialization that individuals go through as they become observant."
— Jewish Link

“Becoming Frum offers a nuanced visual and sound portrait of Orthodox Jewish life, enabling us to hear the way individuals’ identities evolve.”
— Samuel Heilman, department of sociology, Queens College, CUNY

"This volume by Benor is a sociolinguistic study of non-Orthodox Jews becoming frum (religious) by returning to the beliefs and practices of Orthodox Jewish life. Nine well-researched chapters underscore the state of hesitation, decision, and action of returnees. Becoming Frum encodes dress change, eating habits, social outlook, and an impressive array of 'dos and don'ts' that will identify the newly observant. Very informative is Benor's investigative scrutiny of frumster speech (religious Yinglish). This is a strong ethnographic study of issues and lessons related to becoming religiously Orthodox observant. Recommended."
— Choice

"Benor's engaging and innovative study of language and identity surprises, delights, and educates. Becoming Frum is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand Jewish language and culture today."
— Mary Bucholtz, department of lingustics, University of California, Santa Barbara

Topics

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    Frontmatter

    i
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    Contents

    vii
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    List Of Figures

    ix
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    List Of Tables

    xi
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    Preface

    xiii
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    Acknowledgments

    xv
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    Transcription Conventions

    xvii
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    1. Introduction: Orthodox Jews And Language Socialization

    1
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    2. “Now You Look Like A Lady”: Adventures In Ethnographic And Sociolinguistic Fieldwork

    31
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    3. “He Has Tzitzis Hanging Out Of His Ponytail”: Orthodox Cultural Practices And How Bts Adapt Them

    52
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    4. “This Is Not What To Record”: Yiddish, Hebrew, And The English Of Orthodox Jews

    81
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    5. “Torah Or Toyrah”: Language And The Modern Orthodox To Black Hat Continuum

    111
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    6. “Just Keepin’ It Real, Mamish”: Why Ba’Alei Teshuva Adopt (Or Avoid) Orthodox Language

    128
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    7. “I Finally Got The Lingo”: Progression In Newcomers’ Acquisition Of Orthodox Language

    144
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    8. “A Ba’Al Teshuva Freak”: Distinguishing Practices Of Newly Orthodox Jews

    168
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    9. Matisyahu And My Fair Lady: Reflections On Adult Language Socialization

    185
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    Notes

    197
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    Bibliography

    221
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    Index

    237
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    About The Author

    249
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Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
September 23, 2019
eBook ISBN:
9780813553917
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
View content
https://doi.org/10.36019/9780813553917
eBook ISBN: 9780813553917
Keywords for this book
Winner; 2013 Sami Rohr Choice Award; Jewish Literature; non-Orthodox Jews; frum; religious; dietary laws; Sabbath prohibitions; culture; matchmakers; homemade gefilte fish; Yiddish-influenced grammar; Orthodox language; community veterans; newcomers; Matisyahu; reggae music; Hebrew words; sing-song intonation; American slang; Sarah Bunin Benor; ethnographic research; sociolinguistic research; American Orthodox community; adult language socialization; medical jargon; Canadians moving to Australia; scholarly; accessible; linguistic process; cultural process; becoming.
Audience(s) for this book
For an expert adult audience, including professional development and academic research
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