After years studying Haredi Jews, Israeli researcher feels at home amid the Amish

Israeli Orthodox Jewish researcher Rivka Neriya-Ben Shahar has spent over a decade studying Amish communities in Pennsylvania, conducting the first comparative study of Haredi Jews and old-order Amish in her 2024 book 'Strictly Observant.' She has visited Amish families more than 100 times, living with them and helping with chores. Her research highlights similarities in strict religious observance and views on technology, alongside differences in courtship, education, and healthcare. The article frames her personal journey and emotional connection to the community.

Rivka Neriya-Ben Shahar, an Orthodox Jewish senior lecturer at Sapir Academic College in Sderot, Israel, has spent over a decade studying Amish communities in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Initially struggling with the language barrier and funding, she was awarded a Fulbright Grant and moved to Massachusetts for the 2011-2012 academic year. She has since visited Amish families more than 100 times, living with them for extended periods. Her 2024 book, 'Strictly Observant,' is the first comparative study of ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel and old-order Amish communities. The article notes that both groups strictly observe their religions and eschew certain elements of modern life, but differ in areas such as courtship, education, and healthcare. Neriya-Ben Shahar is now researching a second book focusing on Amish women's lives. The framing relies on the researcher's personal narrative and emotional connection to the Amish families she has lived with.