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Deviance and Social Control Among Baredi DEVIANCE AND SOCIAL CONTROL AMONG BAREDI ADOLESCENT MALES Jonathan Levy School of Social Wmk McGill University, Montreal January 2004 A thesis subrnitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in the partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy © Jonathan Levy 2004 Library and Bibliothèque et 1+1 Archives Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de l'édition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada Your file Votre référence ISBN: 0-612-98303-X Our file Notre référence ISBN: 0-612-98303-X NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library permettant à la Bibliothèque et Archives and Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par télécommunication ou par l'Internet, prêter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des thèses partout dans loan, distribute and sell th es es le monde, à des fins commerciales ou autres, worldwide, for commercial or non­ sur support microforme, papier, électronique commercial purposes, in microform, et/ou autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriété du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in et des droits moraux qui protège cette thèse. this thesis. Neither the thesis Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels de nor substantial extracts from it celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés ou autrement may be printed or otherwise reproduits sans son autorisation. reproduced without the author's permission. ln compliance with the Canadian Conformément à la loi canadienne Privacy Act some supporting sur la protection de la vie privée, forms may have been removed quelques formulaires secondaires from this thesis. ont été enlevés de cette thèse. While these forms may be included Bien que ces formulaires in the document page count, aient inclus dans la pagination, their removal does not represent il n'y aura aucun contenu manquant. any loss of content from the thesis. ••• Canada Abstract The ultra-Orthodox (haredi) Jewish community includes the Hasidim and misnagdim who believe that they are the true foIlowers of God's commandments, as He intended them to be foIlowed when presented at Sinaï, and as interpreted and codified by the Mishnah, Talmud, and other Rabbinic works. Little research has examined deviance witbin tbis group. Tbis thesis delves into types of deviant behaviors taking place among haredi adolescents, as weIl as their causes, so that effective interventions, sensitive to the virtually unique needs of tbis group, can be implemented. Theoretical definitions of deviance are examined as they relate to tbis community and its emphasis on religious observance. Ultimately, deviance is defined as matters that can distract the individual from expected levels of religious observance. Using Urie Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Model· of Human Development, tbis thesis also explores the environmental factors contributing to a rise in deviant behavior in segments of the Montreal ultra-Orthodox community. From an analysis of data obtained from numerous interviews with community members as weIl as with mental health professionals familiar with tbis group, four contributing factors to the rise of deviant behavior among adolescent boys are identified. These factors test current haredi methods of maintaining strong cultural boundaries and May suggest that changes are necessary to cope with current challenges. The lure of mainstream culture is a strong draw for adolescents and advances in technology allow these individuals to easily engage in secret deviant behavior while remaining in good standing within the community. Moreover, the rigid structure of the school day with its long. hours and intensive curriculum makes it difficult to accommodate the needs of aIl students. Changes in family structure, dynamics, and composition, as well as an increasingly stringent interpretation of religious law have aIso contributed to a rise in deviance. Finally, community financial weakness is explored as it relates to adolescence and a loss of religious identity. 2 Résume La communauté ultra-orthodoxe (haredi) comprend les Hassidim et les misnagdim, qui croient être les véritables disciples des coqunandements de Dieu, tels qu'TI désirait que ceux-ci soient suivis lorsque présentes au Sinaï, et tels qu'ils ont été interprètes et codifiés par la Mishnah, le Talmud et les autres ouvrages rabbiniques. Peu de recherches ont été effectuées au sujet de la déviance au sein de ce groupe. Cette thèse explore les différents types de comportements déviants observés chez les adolescents haredi, ainsi que leurs causes, afin que des interventions efficaces et adaptées aux besoins quasiment uniques de ce groupe puissent être appliqués. Des définitions théoriques de la déviance sont étudiées par rapport a cette communauté et a l'importance de l'observance religieuse que l'on y trouve. Finalement, la déviance est définie comme étant l'ensemble des éléments pouvant éloigner un individu de l'observance religieuse attendue. A l'aide du modèle écologique du développement humain de Urie Bronfenbrenner, j'ai aussi exploré les facteurs environnementaux qui contribuent à un accroissement du comportement déviant dans certaines parties de la communauté ultra­ Orthodoxe de Montréal. L'analyse des données obtenues a partir de nombreuses entrevues avec des membres de la communauté ainsi qu'avec des professionnels en santé mentale qui connaissent ce groupe, a permis d'identifier quatre facteurs contribuant a l'accroissement du comportement déviant des garçons adolescents. Ces facteurs remettent en question des méthodes haredi qui ont pour but de maintenir de fortes frontières culturelles et laissent à penser que des changements sont nécessaires pour faire face aux défis actuels. L'attrait de la culture de masse est forte pour ces adolescents et les avancées technologiques leur permettent d'adopter secrètement des comportement déviants tout en maintenant une bonne image a l'intérieur de la communauté. La structure scolaire rigide avec ses longues heures et ses programmes intensifs complexifie la tache de répondre aux besoins de tous les étudiants. Des changements dans la structure familiale, dans ses dynamiques et sa composition, ainsi qu'une interprétation de plus en plus stricte de la loi religieuse ont aussi contribue a un accroissement de la déviance. Finalement, les difficultés financières de la communauté sont explorées dans leur rapport a l'adolescence et a la perte d'identité religieuse. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS ,~-, Acknowledgements 7 Map of Outremont 9 Chapter 1 Introduction 10 1.1 The Emergence of the Haredim 11 1.2 The Establishment of the Haredim in North America 18 1.3 A Note on the Lubavitch Hasidim 20 1.4 The Montreal Community 22 1.5 Statement ofProblem 25 1.6 Review of the Literature 27 1.7 Conclusion 35 Chapter2 Theoretical Concepts 2.1 Introduction 36 2.2 Social Control 36 2.2.1 Prevention 37 2.2.2 Rewards 38 2.2.3 Socialization 40 2.2.4 External Reinforcement 41 2.3 Boundary Maintenance 42 2.4 The Ecological Model ofHuman Development 47 2.5 Risk 52 2.6 Conclusion 55 Cbapter3 Methodology 3.1 Introduction 57 3.2 History of Research 57 3.3 Methodology 60 3.4 Recruitment 64 3.5 Validity 70 3.6 Limits of Research 74 3.7 A Note Regarding the Quotations 75 3.8 Conclusion 75 Chapter 4 Deviance 4.1 Introduction 77 4.2 Theories of Deviance 77 (' 4.3 Deviance Among Montreal Haredim 84 ~ 4 4.4 Defining Deviance 85 /~ 4.5 Loss ofReligious Identity 89 4.6 Deviant Behaviors 91 4.6.1 DrugUse 91 4.6.2 Alcohol Abuse 95 4.6.3 Cigarettes 97 4.6.4 Vandalism 99 4.6.5 Theft 100 4.6.6 Truancy 103 4.6.7 Contact with Girls 105 4.6.8 Homosexual Behavior 108 4.6.9 Dress 109 4.7 Progression of Deviance 112 4.8 Conclusion 114 Chapter5 Mainstream Culture as a Contributing Factor to the Rise in Deviant Behavior 5.1 Introduction 116 5.2 Influences Outside the Home 117 5.3 Influences Inside the Home 127 5.3.1 Television 129 5.3.2 Cellular Telephones 131 5.3.3 Radio 132 5.3.4 Computers 133 5.3.5 Internet 134 5.4 Conclusion 138 Chapter6 The Yeshiva as a Contributing Factor to the Rise of Deviant Behavior 6.1 Introduction 141 6.2 The School Day 142 6.3 Differences Between the Boys' Schools' and the 144 Girls' Schools 6.4 Free Time 147 6.5 The Rebbe 150 6.6 The Successful and Unsuccessful Student 154 6.7 Expulsion From School 158 6.8 Reasons not to Change 160 6.9 Conclusion 161 Chapter 7 Changes in Family Dynamics and Religious Observance as Contributing Factors to the Rise of Deviant Behavior 7.1 Introduction 164 7.2 The Holocaust and its Aftermath 165 C/ 5 The Impact ofHasidim and Misnagdim on Each Other 170 ,'-' 7.3 7.4 Marriage 171 7.5 Larger Families 176 7.6 Poorer Parenting 178 7.7 Fear of Children Going Off the Derech 181 7.8 Conclusion 182 Chapter8 Communal Financial Weakness as a Contributing Factor to the Rise of Deviant Behavior 8.1 Introduction 185 8.2 Cost of Living 186 8.3 Appropriate Employment 188 8.4 Lack of Secular Education 190 8.5 Reliance on Non-Haredi Financial Support 192 8.6 Population Explosion 194 8.7 Adolescent Financial Freedom 196 8.8 Exceptions 198 8.9 Conclusion 199 Chapter9 Conclusion 201 AppendixA Examples of Posters from the Montreal Haredi Community 209 AppendixB Interview Guide - Adolescents 213 AppendixC Interview Guide - Parents 215 AppendixD Interview Guide - Professionals 217 Appendi:J E Interview Guide - Rabbis 219 Appendix F Consent Form - Adolescents 221 Appendix G Consent Form - Parents 223 AppendixH Consent Form - Rabbis and Professionals 224 Appendix 1 Research Ethics Board Approval 225 Glossary of Hebrew and Yiddish Terms 230 Bibliography 234 C 6 Acknowledgements Undertaking a project of tbis magnitude is never an easy one.
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