The Haredim What Was Is Not What Will Be

Key Findings:

The rise of the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community in Israel has been a surprising development since the establishment of the state. Initially, the Haredim were a small community consisting of Old Yishuv communities and immigrants and refugees from the European Holocaust, and they were not seen as significant players in national life. The Zionist leadership believed that the Haredi way of life would become irrelevant as the country progressed.

However, the Haredim managed to rebound from the Holocaust and became a major force in Israeli society within a few decades. They now make up one-eighth of the population and their interaction with other citizens has become a central issue in Israeli politics, society, economy, education, media, and culture. The Haredi centrality has far-reaching implications for Israel's national resilience.

The Haredim have achieved this centrality through several strategic pillars. They have successfully established autonomy by isolating themselves from the Israeli public sphere and cultivating their unique way of life. This self-segregation is maintained through the leadership of influential rabbis who are revered for their immersion in Torah study. The Haredi strategy promotes a society focused on Torah study as the primary occupation for men, while women are expected to support the household. Additionally, the Haredim strive to have large families, leading to rapid population growth.

The Haredim have been politically effective due to their disciplined voting bloc and the divided nature of Israeli society. They primarily focus on obtaining resources for their community and protecting their way of life. However, there are challenges to the sustainability of their current strategy. The Haredi community's exponential growth creates a significant economic burden and strains public resources. The community's low contribution to public funds while consuming a disproportionate share of public funds is unsustainable. Additionally, the housing needs of the Haredim pose a challenge as their insularity clashes with the necessity of settling in non-Haredi cities.

The COVID-19 crisis has also highlighted the challenges posed by the Haredi strategy. The noncompliance of some Haredim with state directives has had a broader impact on society, showcasing the externalization of the costs of the Haredi way of life. Moreover, the strategy of universal yeshiva tracking for Haredi men is unrealistic and risks delegitimizing the entire enterprise.

The Haredi community also faces leadership challenges since the passing of influential rabbis, resulting in a decentralized leadership and the rise of ideologically extreme groups. The loss of centralized leadership may lead to a thinning of the mainstream Haredi ranks, with some joining isolationist groups and others seeking integration into Israeli society. The Haredim also face the challenge of accessing information due to the technological revolution and the availability of the Internet, which poses a threat to their self-segregation.

In conclusion, the Haredi community's current strategy is facing significant challenges on multiple fronts. Their needs have increased with their size, and they are increasingly engaged in politics and government. However, self-segregation and cooperation with others are incompatible in the long run. The technological revolution and access to information also pose challenges to the Haredi way of life. The Haredi community is at a delicate moment where the continuation of their present strategy is uncertain.