Expanding Borders in a Conservative Space- the Leisure Arenas of Ultra- Orthodox Women in Israel

This lecture delves into the central dilemmas faced by a conservative religious community, exploring the degree to which it should embrace the external environment and its influences. Over the past two decades, the ultra-Orthodox community in Israel has experienced profound changes challenging its cohesion and traditional values.

The presentation focuses on the emergence of a new leisure culture among religious women, specifically their participation in the "Ezmera" choir. The research aims to examine this phenomenon on two levels: at the individual level, investigating the internal meanings of choosing to engage in such activities and its implications for the participants; and at the community level, exploring how legitimizing such activities within the community expands the cultural horizons of conservative women, along with broader implications for community life in response to external changes.

The research methodology is qualitative and includes three main tools: observation of multiple rehearsals of the "Ezmera" choir, 20 semi-structured in-depth interviews with participating ultra-Orthodox women, and two focused group discussions with 10 pioneering women. All meetings took place in the city of Safed, located in the northern periphery of Israel.

Preliminary findings indicate a shift in the ultra-Orthodox community and an expansion of boundaries in their new leisure culture. The activities and connections among women suggest the emergence of a three-dimensional in-group space encompassing deep and supportive relationships, creative expression and liberation, and the attainment of empowerment as agents of change within their community.