Further data shows that around 70% of the Haredi population believes that those not studying Torah should contribute to either military or civilian service, alongside a 20% increase in support for integrating Haredim into the IDF and security system.

The extensive survey, carried out by the polling company Askariya among 500 respondents aged 18 and above from the Haredi population through telephone interviews, examined the Haredi society’s attitudes toward the State of Israel and Israeli society, and the changes following the Swords of Iron Conflict. The survey’s sample effectively reflects the various trends within the Haredi community, distinguishing between conservative and modern perspectives, and considering age groups, employment, and geographical distribution.

Feeling a Shared Destiny with Israeli Society

73% of the Haredi population feels that their sense of shared destiny with Israeli society has intensified in light of the war. Analysis of the survey, based on the spectrum between highly conservative and more modern viewpoints, indicates that those who identified themselves as more modern had a higher sense of shared destiny with Israeli society compared to those who identified as more conservative.

Within the Haredi community, 53% believe that the Haredim should forego coalition funds allocated to the Haredi sector due to the war. Among them: 19% believe all coalition funds should be relinquished, compared to 34% who believe all budgets should be relinquished except those allocated for education.

For 85% of the Haredi population, it’s important that the secular society views the Haredi society favorably. 32% support increased involvement of the Haredim in Israeli society, contrasting with 14% advocating for increased segregation. Additionally, another 44% prefer that the Haredi society continues its conduct towards the Israeli society in the same manner as it has done until now.

Increase in Support for IDF Enlistment

Analyzing the survey results reveals a rise of approximately 20% in support for Haredi enlistment in the IDF following the Swords of Iron Conflict, totaling around 29% of the Haredi population in favor of Haredi enlistment in the army.

Overall, categorized by sectors, the highest support for IDF enlistment exists within Chabad Hasidism (74%). Following that, with a significant gap, it’s among the Sephardic community (36%), followed by the Hasidic community in third place (25%), and lastly, the Lithuanian community in fourth and final place (20%).

Furthermore, the data shows that 70% of the Haredi community agrees that a Haredi individual not studying Torah should contribute to the country through military/national/civil service, while 51% disagree with Haredim receiving a blanket exemption from IDF conscription.

Joining the war effort

58% indicated that their sense of personal security was affected following the war. Alongside this figure, 37% stated that they or their spouses consider obtaining a gun license due to the war, and 20% responded that they or their spouses are considering joining a readiness class. Analyzing the responses on a very conservative-to-modern axis, it appears that the more modern respondents defined themselves, the more willing they were to consider obtaining a gun license or joining a readiness class. 12% of survey participants noted that they or their spouses joined an association dealing with emergency medicine and preparedness due to the war.

Trust in public systems

The IDF and security system ranked first in the trust index of public systems (59%). In second place, with a mere one percent difference, were the representatives of the parties that the respondents voted for in the survey (presumably mostly Knesset members from Haredi parties). In third place were the local authorities (48% expressed trust, compared to 51% who expressed distrust), followed by the Israeli Police in fourth place (42% trust versus 57% distrust). The government ranked fifth with 34% expressing trust compared to 64% expressing distrust, and lastly, the judicial system found itself at the bottom with only 8% expressing trust compared to 90% expressing distrust.”

Eli Paley, Chairman of the Haredi Institute for Public Policy Research: “The effects of the events of October 7 are long-term and still need to be thoroughly examined and studied. The changes indicated by the survey in many positions within the Haredi society concerning the Israeli society, as well as in understanding the role of the Haredi society in contributing to Israel’s economic and security needs, present a historic opportunity for decision-makers. The survey reflects a strong desire within the Haredi public to be more involved and contribute more in various areas. The significant challenge for the military and public systems is to create tailored plans that will enable the Haredi society to have a genuine opportunity for substantial contribution.”

Dr. Shai Stern, Deputy to the Chairman of the Haredi Institute for Public Policy Research: “The survey results teach us that, similar to the entire Israeli society, the events of October 7 influence the Haredi society, challenging fundamental assumptions regarding its functioning over decades. The survey reveals that the majority of the Haredi society sees itself as a partner in the Israeli narrative, especially concerning the state’s security needs. The impact on personal security perceptions, alongside the understanding of the importance of unity in the entire Israeli society, indicates that significant and growing portions within the Haredi society are interested in increasing their involvement.”

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Even compared to the education systems in Israel, the score of Haredi girls in mathematics is 474 compared to 473 in public education, and 454 in the National-Religious public education. In reading, the score of Haredi students was 522, compared to 510 in public education and 494 in National-Religious public education. These remarkable results point to the tremendous potential within the Haredi education system regarding achievements and skills required for leading professions in the economy.

Eli Paley, the head of the Haredi Institute for Public Affairs, states: “Instead of examining the education system through the narrow lens of core studies, PISA research evaluates skills relevant to the job market. Just as with the results for accounting, where Haredi seminary students excelled and achieved the top results with a 96 percent passing rate, similarly, in PISA research, Haredi female students prove their skills and the inherent potential within the Haredi sector.”

Paley adds, “It is worth noting that the teachers who brought Haredi girls to high achievements, even in comparison to other OECD countries, are teachers who, for years, did not receive the salary increases of the ‘Ofek Hadash’ reform. In recent days, after approving ‘Ofek Hadash’ supplements for them, an unfair public debate is underway about whether these teachers, who have proven their contribution to the skills of their students and their contribution to the economy, are entitled to receive what a non-Haredi teacher is entitled to.”

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The appointment represents a significant step in the development and revitalization of the Institute’s activities, expected to focus on in-depth research and core issues related to the interrelations between the Haredi society and the broader Israeli society and state.

Dr. Shtern will lead the research field at the Haredi Institute. Additionally, he will oversee a strategic project involving senior figures from the Israeli academia and the national security system, aimed at formulating an implementation plan for integrating the Haredi society as an integral part of Israel’s national resilience and security.

Dr. Shtern, a specialist in property law, planning, construction, and the legal construction of space, has been heading the housing research department at the Haredi Institute for the past three years. His research focuses on the tension between the state and the communities operating within its boundaries, including political, legal, and spatial aspects. He has published dozens of articles in leading journals in the fields of law, sociology, and space both in Israel and abroad. He serves on the management boards of international academic associations and is a writer and chief editor of the law journal at Bar Ilan University.

Chairman of the Haredi Institute for Public Affairs, Eli Paley: “The challenging security reality we have faced, once again proves that for the future and prosperity of the State of Israel, both from a security perspective and a socio-economic perspective, it is essential upon us to find solutions, make adjustments, and redefine the interrelations between the Haredi society and the State of Israel. I congratulate Dr. Shtern on his appointment to this position. I am confident that his appointment will bring a significant contribution to the professional development of the Institute, and his rich research experience will greatly assist the Institute in formulating the research infrastructure and advancing precise policies on issues related to the Haredi population”.

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The horrifying events of Simchat Torah have left us shattered, appalled and stunned. Undoubtedly, this catastrophe, one of the most terrible that Israel has ever known, should compel us to reevaluate the threats we face and revisit the appropriate strategies.

One of the significant lessons to draw from this tragedy is the need for a well-prepared and organized civil society, alongside a strong and skilled military. It’s difficult to fathom how these events would have concluded without the numerous well-trained reservists who found themselves on the frontlines, without volunteer first responders, including the United Hatzalah organization, whose tales of heroism during the days following the tragedy are endless.

It would have been a different scenario without the IDF’s Home Front Command, which had to handle with boundless sensitivity a situation unlike any other, and without all those spontaneous initiatives that sprung across the country, driven by an urgent desire to respond to various challenges, from organizing lists of the missing to providing aid to evacuees or resolving supply shortages for reserve forces.

Israeli civil society has proven its strength not only due to the challenges faced by the state’s systems to function in real-time but also because there are things that only civil organizations can provide. The extensive outreach, on-the-ground connection, firsthand familiarity with the population’s needs and the ability to think outside the box are some of the unique traits civil organizations excel in. These traits become critically important when dealing with, heaven forbid, large-scale challenges such as the one we witnessed in southern Israel.These qualities have already found expression in previous crises, like the COVID-19 pandemic, and their significance has only grown in the current crisis

Israel holds a vast human capital in the field of civic assistance. It’s impossible not to mention the ultra-Orthodox sector in this context, whose eco-system has become fertile ground for a wide variety of creative and high-quality social initiatives. Startups of civic aid organizations know how to respond to various emergencies and needs, filling gaps that public systems cannot.

Organizations like ZAKA (Disaster Victim Identification), United Hatzalah, Ezer Mizion, Yad Sarah, Yadidim, Zichron Menachem, Matnat Chaim and many more, are just a few examples of this diverse social network. They are capable of mobilizing quickly, providing innovative and tailored responses to the needs of Israel’s citizens. The day after the war, there will be a pressing need for a fresh assessment of the challenges that Israel must confront and the ways to respond. This will involve reorganizing various systems. Civil society organizations, and particularly those within the ultra-Orthodox community over the past two decades, may play a pivotal role in building strength and resilience on the home front.

In this context, it is essential to map and recognize the vast human resources within civil society, channeling them thoughtfully toward Israel’s security challenges, and establishing the necessary connections among the public and security sectors, including the ultra-Orthodox sector.

In the new reality we find ourselves in, even the longstanding consensus should not be taken for granted. Questions about the military’s structure, the required scope of conscription and the proper way to engage the entire population in these efforts, including the ultra-Orthodox community, must all be re-evaluated.

The ultra-Orthodox community, too, will need to be an active participant in rethinking its responsibilities and roles within Israel’s emergency and security framework, rather than relying on outdated answers and a status quo that may no longer be relevant. It is equally important to appreciate the unique contributions of the ultra-Orthodox sector and the ultra-Orthodox civil society organizations as they integrate into national efforts.

The appropriate mission at this time is the intentional integration of the civilian forces active within the ultra-Orthodox community and beyond, into the basic emergency response framework of state institutions such as the IDF, Home Front Command, Israel Police and local authorities. Israel should not solely rely on the goodwill and national responsibility displayed by these individuals but should also incorporate them as an integral and inseparable part of the country’s power structure in routine and emergencies, safeguarding the citizens on the home front and the frontlines.

For tackling challenges of this nature, flexibility and creativity are the name of the game, and both the general civilian society and the ultra-Orthodox community, in particular, possess these qualities in abundance. They must be at the forefront of any long-term strategic plan.

The Article was first published on Ynet.

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This portrayal does not correspond to the real situation. It ignores other aspects that should be taken into account and does an injustice to an entire group. In addition to the figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics on which the NII report was based, there are other figures based on a social survey and a consumer confidence survey by the Central Bureau of Statistics that make it possible to analyze the economic situation and poverty of the population in general and among haredim in particular.

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