From Orthodoxy to Modernity: Julia Haart’s Unique Experience
Julia Haart, the celebrated star of Netflix’s “My Unorthodox Life”, recently opened up about her unconventional past, shedding light on her deeply traditional upbringing in the Orthodox Jewish community. This isn’t just about a Hollywood star sharing a personal anecdote; it’s a window into a world that seems to belong to another era altogether.
An Unconventional Act of Nurturing
Haart recalls a particularly astonishing memory from her past. When she was breastfeeding her eldest daughter, she also ended up nursing her younger brother. “My mother was like, ‘Oh you’re already nursing your daughter. Take him, too. So, I ended up nursing my brother and my daughter. That’s a mindf–k,” Haart stated on the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast. But for her, this wasn’t a bizarre anomaly but rather a glimpse into the norms of the community she was a part of.
A Trip Back in Time
In many ways, the reality star paints her life in the Orthodox Jewish community as a journey back in time. Drawing parallels between her experiences and 18th-century practices, she says, “Go back a couple hundred years, everyone had a wet nurse, right? You didn’t nurse your own baby if you had money.” To Haart, her existence in the community felt reminiscent of living in the 1800s. Describing herself as a ‘time traveler’, she emphasizes the stark contrast between her previous life and her current one.
Breaking Free from Tradition
In 2013, at the age of 42, Haart took the bold step of leaving the Haredi community in New York. This wasn’t just about leaving a geographical location; it was about breaking free from a life that had been charted out for her. As a teenager, Haart had been arranged to marry, resulting in a family of four children: Batsheva, Miriam, Shlomo, and Aron.
Yet, despite the deep-rooted traditions, Haart revealed she always had an inherent sense of doubt. “I’ve been questioning [Orthodox Judaism] my entire life – silently, inside. But they had convinced me that I was somehow inherently flawed for not being okay with the system,” she said.
It was her daughter Miriam’s questions, beginning at the tender age of five, that became a catalyst for change in Haart’s life. The reality star realized, “it’s not me, it’s the system. The system is not okay.”
A New Chapter
Today, Julia Haart stands as a testament to the power of questioning, challenging norms, and seeking one’s own path. As she celebrates her show’s success with her daughters and embraces her newfound freedom, her journey serves as an inspiration for many to question systems and pave their own unique path in the world.
Source: Foxnews
