The Spiritual Capability
A universal theory of human flourishing cannot be complete if it leaves no room for the human need to live a meaningful and spiritual life.**
I examine how social norms shape people’s perceptions of what is possible, acceptable, and real.
Using real-world interventions, surveys, and qualitative research, I study how norms shift and how communities redefine their boundaries.
This work builds an evidence base for deep, lasting social change.
Understanding how communities see and shape the world
This work explores how social norms, perceptions, and power structures define what is seen as legitimate, possible, and true – particularly within Haredi society and in contexts of poverty. Working in real-world settings, I use hands-on, field-based methods to examine how these dynamics evolve and how communities reshape their realities from within. The goal is to generate grounded knowledge that supports meaningful, lasting social change.
Hi, I’m Nechumi
A political psychologist at Tel Aviv University. Born and raised in the Haredi community, my work is shaped by the experience of living within and across different social worlds. I study how social norms, power, and identity shape the realities people inhabit, and how these realities can change from within.
My research focuses on minority and closed communities, with a particular emphasis on Haredi society. Earlier in my career, I led a reform of the history curriculum in the Haredi education system and authored a central textbook still used by girls’ schools across the sector.
Beyond academia, I work at the intersection of research, policy, and social leadership. In 2023, I was part of a group of women who brought public attention to sexual violence within Haredi society. Following the events of October 7, I founded “Achdut,” the largest Haredi civilian command center, coordinating more than 100,000 volunteers.
My research has been published in leading journals, including Evolution and Human Behavior, Policy Sciences, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, and Group Processes & Intergroup Relations. I have received several awards, including the Early Career Excellence Award from the Association for Israel Studies and the Rector’s Teaching Excellence Award, recognizing both my research and teaching.
Research
Perceptions and Meta-Perceptions in Intergroup Relations
Public Opinion Surveys of the Ultra-Orthodox Community in Israel and the USA
Social Norms and Norm Deviation
Power Relations: Gender and Poverty
Publications
The Currency of Desire
What makes a man desirable? Not money, but the kind of status his culture rewards
The Poverty Trap of Belonging
Among U.S. ultra-Orthodox Jews, poverty is not only an economic condition but a social trap—where the very networks that preserve belonging can also deepen long-term dependency
When Women Earn and Men Rule
In Haredi society, women earn the money—but men gain the status.
Community Shades of Green
Environmental commitment was found to be predicted most strongly by a person’s level of openness to the modern world, not their sectarian identity
When Green Taxes Backfire
When environmental policy feels like political punishment, it may not only fail to change behavior—but also produce a lasting backlash against climate action itself.
The price of stigma in the Haredi community
The article examines the social stigma against Haredi men who enlist in the army, showing that the enforcement of this community norm imposes costs on the entire community, not just on the individuals who deviate from it.
Stigma Among Norm Deviants and Community Members
This article examines the wellbeing of Haredi men who enlist in the Israeli army, highlighting how resilience, belonging, and stigma shape the personal costs of crossing a central communal norm.
Poor is pious
When identity is threatened, poverty can become a source of pride.
Quietly Breaking Norms
A small act of norm-breaking can feel deeply uncomfortable—and reveal how powerfully community belonging is held together by everyday conformity
In the media
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