Do religious jews have hobbies? ?

Question

We were wondering if haredi jews are allowed to have hobbies, such as astronomy or cooking, just to name a few. Ever heard of a haredi jew who enjoys cooking? Is he allowed to do that if he likes it?

Answer 1

Why wouldn't religious Jews be allowed to enjoy cooking?  They and their families have to eat just like everyone else, after all. And kosher cuisine, prepared by a good cook, is delicious.  Most of the religious Jews that I know don't go out to restaurants -- at least not often -- because of their dietary restrictions; instead, they eat at home or go to each others' homes to socialize over a meal. So cooking is an important part of their social and family lives.

And unless they're ultra-Orthodox and living in a segregated community. most religious Jews in my experience work, and shop, and live in regular contact with non-Jews and less-religious Jews in the secular world outside their own congregation or community, and have interests outside of the purely religious sphere.

I have a couple of friends who are Orthodox Jews, who are each in his own way interested in secular American country music.  One is a talented country/folk/blues singer and guitarist who, in addition to writing and performing his own songs, also loves Hank Williams, and Johnny Cash and Jimmie Rodgers, etc, and performs their songs in front of appreciative audiences on a regular basis. The other is a fiddler who plays and loves Southern Appalachian old-time square-dance music, and has done so for many years.

So YES - -Orthodox Jews can and do have secular interests and hobbies.

Answer 2

reported ............offensive idiotic question...

get ur brain outta ur *** and move on

Answer 3

Yep, religious Jews can have hobbies :)

Very Orthodox Jews will of course be extremely involved with spending time with their children and raising a family, and this applies to the men as much as the women. The men will devote time to prayer and also studying. But plenty of religious Jews enjoy lots of hobbies, yes.

That can include cooking but as has been pointed out, only kosher dishes :)

Answer 4

Yes and no.

First off, if you mean Hareidi Jews, it's clearer to use that term, or "Orthodox," rather than "religious."  There are many Reform and Conservative Jews out there, who may not be Torah observant, but who are extremely religious within the guidelines set by their own denominations.  And who of course have hobbies :)

When it comes to the most strictly observant Orthodox Jews, Hareidi and Chassidim, they are allowed to have hobbies, but within reason.  Nothing is seen as having a higher place in life than studying Torah, but when you have a family to support (and most ultra-Orthodox Jews have huge families) the men generally have to earn a living - so their "hobby" would become Torah study (and Talmud, which is considered a part of that).  Time taken away from Torah is considered wasted time.  So while you might find a Hareidi Jew who loved to cook (to use your example), or collected stamps, it would not be likely that they would take it to the next step of taking a lot of cooking courses, or going to flea markets.  Leisure time is generally spent studying or spending time with their families.  Basically, outside activities aren't forbidden (most of them, anyhow) - it's just a matter of having a different value system.  

Most Orthodox Jews are not actually Hareidi or Chassidic, however, but are more modern in attitude when it comes to interacting with the world (even among those who do not consider themselves "Modern Orthodox") - and among them you will find a much farther-reaching scope of activities.  

Answer 5

I don't know anything about "Haredi" Jews, but, when talking about Jews in general, of course they have hobbies.  For instance, tennis, reading, knitting, bingo, scrabble, hockey, Yahoo! Answers, following politics, Golfing, humor, drinking, arts, dancing, Swimming, crafts, Football, etc., etc.

Answer 6

i dont know if you've met an hareidi jew but they are human beings and do normal fun stuff to.

i am hareidi and bake, swim, read and listen to music.

astromony is diffrent though as we cant do it for diffrent reasons which i cant explain as im not 100% sure. sorry.

Answer 7

I was going to ask the same question about Baptists.