Negotiated individualism: the emergence of Jewish ultra-orthodox Gen-Z in Israel

This paper explores the identity work of Haredi (ultra-Orthodox Jewish) youth in Israel, focusing on how they negotiate internet use, which is largely prohibited in their conservative religious communities. Based on 38 semi-structured interviews with 18-year-old Haredi men and women from various subgroups, the study examines how they engage with digital spaces while maintaining their religious identity. Their narratives reveal strategies of selective obedience, boundary-making and reinterpretation of religious authority. While not rejecting the Haredi lifestyle altogether, they critique rabbinic absolutism and its claims over their private life. These youth view digital engagement as a space for learning and self-expression. The concept of ‘negotiated individualism’ is introduced to describe how they balance autonomy and religious belonging. Unlike liberal individualism, Haredi Gen-Z assert agency from within tradition, adapting it to digital realities. The study shows how cultural deference to rabbinic authority, sometimes misread as passivity, in fact illustrates how even tightly regulated religious communities are reshaped by generational change and digital connectivity.