The Turnaround in Israel’s Haredi Society in the Late 20th Century: A Data-Based Analysis

In recent decades, research on Haredi society has expanded significantly, emphasizing its distinctive characteristics in contrast with the broader Israeli social fabric. Commonly described as “separatist”, “secessionist”, “isolated”, and “an enclave”, Haredi society is often perceived as segregated...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ḳeren-Ḳrats, Menaḥem (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Published: 2025
In: Religions
Year: 2025, Volume: 16, Issue: 2
Further subjects:B Israeli society
B ultra-Orthodoxy in Israel
B Israel’s Haredi society
B state and church in Israel
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Volltext (kostenfrei)
Description
Summary:In recent decades, research on Haredi society has expanded significantly, emphasizing its distinctive characteristics in contrast with the broader Israeli social fabric. Commonly described as “separatist”, “secessionist”, “isolated”, and “an enclave”, Haredi society is often perceived as segregated from the rest of Israel’s population. However, recent studies suggest that this reclusiveness is a relatively recent development. Until the 1980s, most Haredim coexisted in mixed residential areas with secular, traditional, and national-religious populations. The employment rate among Haredi men was comparable to that of other Israelis, and secular subjects were part of the curriculum in Haredi schools. Moreover, many Haredi men served in the Israeli army and held a positive view of the state, celebrating its accomplishments. The contemporary concept of a “society of learners”, where many married men engage in yeshiva study while their wives serve as the main breadwinners, was once largely unacceptable within the community. Unlike earlier qualitative studies that documented the transformation of Haredi society, this article employs a quantitative approach to detail these changes. Through an analysis of residential patterns, education, military service, political influence, and the rise of the “society of learners”, this study provides a deeper understanding of the forces shaping contemporary Haredi society and explores potential future trajectories.
ISSN:2077-1444
Contains:Enthalten in: Religions
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.3390/rel16020145