Frum


Frum is a word that describes Jewish religious devotion. The appellation is generally, but not only, applied to certain movements within Ashkenazic Orthodox Judaism, and used by some members of these groups as a self-reference.
The term connotes the observance of Jewish religious law in a way that often exceeds its bare requirements. This not only includes the careful study of Torah, daily prayers, observing Shabbat and kashrut, and performing deeds of loving-kindness, but also many more customs and khumrot.
The term frum contrasts with , which describes Jews who are secular or practice non-Orthodox observance, or "free from keeping the... commandments."

Meaning

Frum can be used in a negative sense for 'hypocritically pious', 'holier-than-thou', 'sanctimonious'; or in a positive sense for 'pious', 'devout', 'God-fearing', and 'upright'. The phrase frum and ehrlich captures the positive connotations of these words, to mean roughly 'upright' or 'righteous'.
The question "is s/he frum?" asks whether the person is religious.

Derived terms

In Yinglish, frummer is used both as a noun for 'one who is frum', and as a comparative adjective, i.e. 'more frum'. The correct Yiddish comparative form of the adjective is, in fact, frimer. Frumkeit describes the lifestyle of those who are frum.
Frummer can also have a negative connotation, similar to chasid shoteh, which is how the Talmud describes a man who sees a woman drowning, but refuses to save her, and says, "It is not proper to look at her, and rescue her." A frummer in that sense is a person displaying a disproportionate emphasis on technical aspects of religion of one's daily life in a manner which actually violates the halakha in a specific case. Another term with this meaning is frummie.
A person who is frum from birth was born into a frum household and has remained observant. This contrasts with a baal teshuva, a Jew who has become frum after a period or lifetime living a non-Orthodox lifestyle.

Mode of dress

The New York Times defines the word frum as 'religiously observant'. For boys and men, covering the head is an identifier of religiosity. For women, being frum includes adherence to the laws of tzniut, such as modest dress covering the arms and legs. For married women, a head covering is another indicator.