First Annual Conference – March 2017 - המכון החרדי למחקרי מדיניות

March

2017

First Annual Conference – March 2017

First Annual Conference of the Haredi Institute for Public Affairs
With the participation of: President Reuven Rivlin, Construction and Housing Minister Yoav Galant, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, MK Yaakov Asher, MK Eli Alalouf

Hour 09:00

Location Crown Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem

Audience All

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Introductory Remarks, Chairman Eli Paley

The opening session of the conference was introduced by the Institute’s founding chairman Eli Paley, who posed the question being asked by researchers and which concerns the social definition of who is “Haredi”? “My understanding is that the definition of ‘who is Haredi’ is anyone for whom Torah is the central value in life,” Paley said, and on this basis he educates his children.”

Paley welcomed President of Israel Reuven Rivlin to address the audience with opening remarks, and spoke of the principles that guide the Institute’s work. These principles, he said, are aligned with the principles the President set forth in his “four tribes” speech delivered at the Herzliya Conference two years ago, where he called upon the Israeli public to strive for full collaboration between all sectors and minorities in Israel. We should strive for partnership born of responsibility, for policy that is based on fairness and equality, and most importantly the confidence that such partnership will be premised on maintaining each sector’s identity. Such partnership is only feasible if we are confident that it will not detract from the core values of the Haredi world.”

Opening Address, President Reuven Rivlin

President of Israel Reuven (Ruby) Rivlin delivered the opening address at the conference and expressed his appreciation and esteem for the Institute’s founder. Rivlin opened his remarks by saying the name of the Institute twice, explaining to the audience that the Institute’s name itself is an innovation that should draw our attention. “I am more than delighted about this conference of the Haredi Institute for Public Affairs,” he said. “I must say, just mentioning the name of the Institute raises eyebrows among people who aren’t familiar with it.”

The President further noted the State’s commitment to preserving the identity and unique character of the Haredi community. “I see you as the successors of the groundbreakers of the Old Yishuv.” Rivlin said, “You don’t compromise on your identity and you know how to be trailblazers who expand the borders of Jerusalem. I believe that the State of Israel should allow anyone who wants to learn to do so. To support those who learn Torah is a privilege and is part of the values of the State. At the same time, it’s clear that policy must be devised. In the present reality, it’s unclear who needs who: is the Haredi community in need of the State or is the State in need of the Haredi community’s integration?”

“Data, the Story Behind Them”, Vice Chair Nitsa (Kaliner) Kasir

Nitsa (Kaliner) Kasir, senior fellow at the Haredi Institute for Public Affairs, delivered a presentation at the opening session of the conference. Kasir presented data concerning poverty rates in the Haredi community in comparison to the poverty rate in general society. The data showed that even though the poverty rate in Haredi society is over 50% and in the general population it is 8.9%, the percentage of people who answered in the affirmative to the question “Have you ever thought of yourself as poor?” was very similar among people in the Haredi community and in general society, and stands at 37%.

Kasir explained that being on the margins of society typifies poverty in the general population, whereas this is almost entirely irrelevant in the Haredi community, where poverty is perceived as a value of living modestly. “Torah study is a key factor because someone who is poor because he has chosen to learn Torah is perceived as having a higher status in society. Poverty is perceived as living modestly.”

To download the presentation Data, The Story Behind Them, and the Haredi Institute for Public Affairs

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