Answer to Question 1
Orthodox Jewish life is very demanding, especially in a basically Christian society such as the United States. Almost all conduct is defined by rituals that require an Orthodox Jew to constantly reaffirm his or her religious conviction. Most Americans are familiar with kashrut, the laws pertaining to permissible and forbidden foods. When strictly adhered to, kashrut governs not only what foods may be eaten (kosher) but also how the food is prepared, served, and eaten. Besides day-to-day practices, Orthodox Jews have weekly and annual observances. Women may not be rabbis among the Orthodox, although beginning in 2006, women were named to head a congregation in one faction of the faith, but only male members of the congregation could read publicly from the Torah.
Even Orthodox Jews differ in their level of adherence to traditional practices. Among the ultraorthodox are the Hasidic Jews, or Hasidim, who number some 200,000, with half residing chiefly in several neighborhoods in Brooklyn. To the Hasidim, following the multitude of mitzvahs, or commandments of behavior, is as important today as it was in the time of Moses. Their spiritual commitment extends well beyond customary Jewish law even as interpreted by Orthodox Jews.
Hasidic Jews wear no garments that mix linen and wool. Men wear a yarmulke, or skullcap, constantly, even while sleeping. Attending a secular college is frowned upon. Instead, the men undertake a lifetime of study of the Torah and the accompanying rabbinical literature of the Talmud. Women's education consists of instruction on how to run the home in keeping with Orthodox tradition. Hasidic Jews, who themselves are organized in separate communities, have courts with jurisdiction recognized by the faithful in many matters, especially as they relate to family life.
Orthodox children attend special schools in order to meet minimal New York State educational requirements. Although devoted to their religion, the Hasidim participate in local elections and politics and are employed in outside occupations. All such activities are influenced by their orthodoxy and a self-reliance rarely duplicated elsewhere in the United States.
Answer to Question 2
When the Middle East became a major hot spot in international affairs in the 1960s, a revival of 1930s levels of anti-Semitism occurred. Many Jewish Americans expressed concern that because Jews are freer in the United States than they have been in perhaps any other country in their history, they would ignore the struggle of other Jews. Israel's precarious status has proven to be a strong source of identity for Jewish Americans. Some Jewish Americans have shown their commitment to the Israeli cause by immigrating to Israel.
The majority of Jewish Americans feel the United States should remain active in world affairs, compared to 36 percent of the total U.S. population. However, even among Jews, support of Israel is not uniform. Although not all American Jews agree with Israel's actions, many Jews express support for Israel's struggles by contributing money and trying to influence American opinion and policy to be more favorable to Israel. A survey taken in 2013 showed that 30 percent of Jewish Americans feel very attached to Israel and another 39 percent feel somewhat attached. But that still leaves nearly a third (31 percent) who feel distant from Israel. One in eight feel that is not an important part of begin Jewish to care about Israel. There are those within the Jewish community who see Jews who did not totally back Israel as giving support to anti-Semitism.
The development of agreements between Israel and its Arab neighbors and the international recognition of Palestinian autonomy in Israel did not end the concern of Jewish Americans that continuing anti-Israeli feeling reflected anti-Semitism.
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