Why now is the time for Israel's ultra-Orthodox to convince Zionist Israel why it should support their community, and what they are willing to give in return
I remember attending a lecture at YU's Jerusalem campus in 2012 about the history that led to Israel's Haredi populations unique position. Israel's founding fathers wanted to preserve some of what had been lost during the Shoah in Eastern Europe. Their design point was 100 Yeshiva boys as an avenue to recreate a slice of Eastern European Jewry in Israel.
As is more than obvious to the most casual observer, 13% of Israel's population (current Haredi representation) living with stipends from the government and not serving in the military or equivalent service is increasingly untenable.
Thanks Ariel for proposing what should and would be a more successful solution; i.e. the Haredi should lead developing the solution so they more fully contribute to Israel's success. My additional suggestions are to create a structure and timeframe for the series of steps to a successful transition to the Haredi more fully participating in Israel's present and future.
Great article. This is the most sensible way to resolve the issues between the Zionists and the Haredi. They exemptions that have existed are now creating social, political and military fissures. They need to be reformed or eliminated.
So what you’re suggesting is rather than imposing legal requirements inconsistent with their values upon them- that there be an open dialogue- to hear their ideas of a practical contribution- has this not happened already? If not, what would it look like?
Correct. I would recommend the State stop all subsidies to the Haredi community as a community, and enforce all laws as it enforces laws for all of its citizens. Individuals who cannot abide by the responsibility of citizenship should use the legal tools available, and always have the right to peacefully object.
If the community would like special status in a quest for collective liberty - which I am sure it does -I would hope the community leaders (either those currently in place or new ones who will arise) would come forward with a proposal for how they believe they can meet the obligations of citizenship while maintaining the distance they desire for autonomy.
How can the state do this legally? For decades, politicians have used alliances with parties that represent the interests of the haredim. Now these parties legally lobby for the interests of their voters. Do you think that the government (whether left or right) can do this without changing the laws, a long process of these laws fighting the legal system?
Hi Viktor - the recent Supreme Court ruling found that this is the law. In a 9-0 opinion with no objections, the Court found that it is illegal to compensate individuals who did not serve as if they are either serving or working -- which is how, legally, compensation to the Haredi community currently works. Because all citizens should be equal under the law, this means Haredi individuals now have the same rights and benefits as any other citizens -- and obligations.
If the Haredi community would like special rights and benefits, I am proposing we wait for them to offer the State reasons as to why the State should treat them differently as opposed to what has happened to-date, where the State has paternalistically decided to grant special benefits without demanding anything in return.
Ariel, thanks for the detailed answer. But that's not quite what I meant when I asked "How?" The court acted like the wise owl in the joke, when the mice asked him: "How to save ourselves from predators?" The owl replied: "Become hedgehogs and the predators will be afraid of your needles." The mice asked: "How can we become hedgehogs?" The owl replied: "I give a strategic solution, figure out the details yourselves."
In a democratic state, it is impossible to deprive a social group of their means of subsistence. This means that it is necessary to develop programs for the implementation of this law, approve them in the Knesset and the government, but both the Knesset and the government have many lobbyists who are sabotaging these programs.
In addition, there are many subsidies and compensations that are not related to military service, which include training for the Haredim, housing for the Haredim, which are also in the gray area of the law and are controversial (I am not saying illegal), and it seems to me that there are also some that the public either does not know about or is simply not initiated into. Many governments over many years years have not dealt with this problem and dealing with it now is not the best idea.
I am not at all against the Haredim and I am quite happy with their existence in the state, but I would really like for legality and justice to be in the first place. I am for the complete integration of the Haredi community into our life without damaging their way of life.
From my point of view, this is possible, but the point of view of the politicians who speak on behalf of this community is completely different.
Ah, thank you for the clarification - and the allegory! In this case the operationalization lies in the formation of the next coalition. Haredim as individuals should have full rights, benefits, and be expected to shoulder the same responsibilities. A coalition that does not include them can ensure Haredi citizens are treated as all other citizens. Until then, however, you're right - this current government will do whatever it can to survive, which, ironically, will dig the Haredim deeper into a debt with the public.
I remember attending a lecture at YU's Jerusalem campus in 2012 about the history that led to Israel's Haredi populations unique position. Israel's founding fathers wanted to preserve some of what had been lost during the Shoah in Eastern Europe. Their design point was 100 Yeshiva boys as an avenue to recreate a slice of Eastern European Jewry in Israel.
As is more than obvious to the most casual observer, 13% of Israel's population (current Haredi representation) living with stipends from the government and not serving in the military or equivalent service is increasingly untenable.
Thanks Ariel for proposing what should and would be a more successful solution; i.e. the Haredi should lead developing the solution so they more fully contribute to Israel's success. My additional suggestions are to create a structure and timeframe for the series of steps to a successful transition to the Haredi more fully participating in Israel's present and future.
Great article. This is the most sensible way to resolve the issues between the Zionists and the Haredi. They exemptions that have existed are now creating social, political and military fissures. They need to be reformed or eliminated.
So what you’re suggesting is rather than imposing legal requirements inconsistent with their values upon them- that there be an open dialogue- to hear their ideas of a practical contribution- has this not happened already? If not, what would it look like?
Correct. I would recommend the State stop all subsidies to the Haredi community as a community, and enforce all laws as it enforces laws for all of its citizens. Individuals who cannot abide by the responsibility of citizenship should use the legal tools available, and always have the right to peacefully object.
If the community would like special status in a quest for collective liberty - which I am sure it does -I would hope the community leaders (either those currently in place or new ones who will arise) would come forward with a proposal for how they believe they can meet the obligations of citizenship while maintaining the distance they desire for autonomy.
How can the state do this legally? For decades, politicians have used alliances with parties that represent the interests of the haredim. Now these parties legally lobby for the interests of their voters. Do you think that the government (whether left or right) can do this without changing the laws, a long process of these laws fighting the legal system?
Hi Viktor - the recent Supreme Court ruling found that this is the law. In a 9-0 opinion with no objections, the Court found that it is illegal to compensate individuals who did not serve as if they are either serving or working -- which is how, legally, compensation to the Haredi community currently works. Because all citizens should be equal under the law, this means Haredi individuals now have the same rights and benefits as any other citizens -- and obligations.
If the Haredi community would like special rights and benefits, I am proposing we wait for them to offer the State reasons as to why the State should treat them differently as opposed to what has happened to-date, where the State has paternalistically decided to grant special benefits without demanding anything in return.
Ariel, thanks for the detailed answer. But that's not quite what I meant when I asked "How?" The court acted like the wise owl in the joke, when the mice asked him: "How to save ourselves from predators?" The owl replied: "Become hedgehogs and the predators will be afraid of your needles." The mice asked: "How can we become hedgehogs?" The owl replied: "I give a strategic solution, figure out the details yourselves."
In a democratic state, it is impossible to deprive a social group of their means of subsistence. This means that it is necessary to develop programs for the implementation of this law, approve them in the Knesset and the government, but both the Knesset and the government have many lobbyists who are sabotaging these programs.
In addition, there are many subsidies and compensations that are not related to military service, which include training for the Haredim, housing for the Haredim, which are also in the gray area of the law and are controversial (I am not saying illegal), and it seems to me that there are also some that the public either does not know about or is simply not initiated into. Many governments over many years years have not dealt with this problem and dealing with it now is not the best idea.
I am not at all against the Haredim and I am quite happy with their existence in the state, but I would really like for legality and justice to be in the first place. I am for the complete integration of the Haredi community into our life without damaging their way of life.
From my point of view, this is possible, but the point of view of the politicians who speak on behalf of this community is completely different.
Ah, thank you for the clarification - and the allegory! In this case the operationalization lies in the formation of the next coalition. Haredim as individuals should have full rights, benefits, and be expected to shoulder the same responsibilities. A coalition that does not include them can ensure Haredi citizens are treated as all other citizens. Until then, however, you're right - this current government will do whatever it can to survive, which, ironically, will dig the Haredim deeper into a debt with the public.