OPINION: `Ultra-Orthodox Jews’: who are they?
Now that we are in the middle of Passover, perhaps the time has come to talk about the media’s constant use of the term “Ultra-Orthodox Jews” – a term newscasters and writers sometimes misuse or overuse.
Often, those writing the articles or giving the newscasts have only a minimal knowledge of Judaism. For example, one article described the Satmar part of Williamsburg as an “Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.” This is technically correct, but it would be more accurately described as a “Hasidic Jewish community.” All Hasidim are Ultra-Orthodox, but not all Ultra-Orthodox are Hasidim.
To many in the media and the general public, it seems, “Ultra-Orthodox” mainly means “religious Jews who wear funny outfits.”