Transcript [00:00] The karedim are a problem, but they are [00:03] also a big part of the solution Israel's [00:05] been waiting for. And the [music] [00:07] problem is shockingly not as big as you [00:09] may think. Most people have seen the [00:11] appalling footage of Israel's [00:13] ultra-ligious sector, the Kharedim, [00:15] often portrayed [music] as disruptive [00:16] and described as an overall drain to the [00:19] economy and social fabric. This behavior [00:21] exists and the overall attitude of [00:23] [music] rejecting participation in [00:25] Israeli society is unhealthy, toxic, and [00:28] destructive [music] to all. [00:29] But how much of the Karedi population [00:31] actually rejects enlisting in the army [00:34] or dismisses the importance [music] of [00:35] unity within Israeli society? We asked a [00:38] few people on the streets of Jerusalem [00:40] to hear their takes. So recently a [00:42] survey was released regarding Karedi [00:44] willingness to serve. [music] About 500 [00:46] Karedi men were surveyed to see how many [00:48] of them would be willing to take up arms [00:50] and join the IDF if given a chance to do [00:52] so. What do you think the percentages [00:53] [music] of men that said that they'd be [00:55] willing to serve in the IDF? 20% [00:57] >> 2% maybe% [01:00] >> shal [01:01] >> well while many Israelis have been sold [01:03] the narrative that most karedim reject [01:05] the idea of unity and idea [music] of [01:07] participation recent studies have shown [01:09] that 90% of karedi individuals recognize [01:12] the importance of unity within Israeli [01:14] society while 50 to 70% of karedi [01:16] individuals aged 24 to 40 are willing to [01:19] enlist and pick up arms immediately in [01:22] active military duty this shows that the [01:25] public perception versus the reality is [01:27] actually flipped. It is not a minority [01:29] of Kharedim that want to be a part of [01:31] the country's collective reality and [01:33] serve in the army. It is actually the [01:35] majority. As of 2026, the current Karedi [01:38] population in Israel is 1.45 million [01:41] people, making it around 15% of the [01:44] population with a growth rate at just [01:46] over 4% per year. [music] Israel's [01:48] overall growth rate is at 1.2% with a [01:51] total current population of 10.3 million [01:53] people. At this rate, in 18 years from [01:56] now, the Israeli population will be [01:57] [music] 13 million and the Karedim will [02:00] not only be double their current [02:02] numbers, but [music] the Karedim will [02:03] become a fourth of the country's [02:05] population. So, if this is so crucial to [02:07] Israel's future, and most Khadim are [02:09] open to joining the army, why hasn't [02:12] this happened yet? We need solutions for [02:14] integration. Over the past few decades, [02:16] the army has already started setting up [02:18] several units that cater to the karedi [02:20] needs and lifestyle, establishing a [02:22] kosher military service for tens of [02:24] [music] thousands of soldiers. Units [02:26] like [02:28] net palatv [02:31] and magavadim to mention a few. Just in [02:35] the recent weeks, over 800 kharedim [02:37] voluntarily enlisted in the IDF taking [02:39] on combat roles and roles in the [02:42] technological sector of the military, [02:44] which proves the change is actively [02:45] happening as we speak. But it's not [02:47] enough. We don't only need the army to [02:50] create a space for karedi soldiers and [02:52] to do everything to keep the commitments [02:54] made, but we also need the religious [02:56] institutional leaders to change as well. [02:59] They must create the cultural shift [03:01] within their communities, altering the [03:03] perception of an IDF uniform and the [03:05] idea of a civil service. A Karedi Jew [03:08] joining the IDF and giving back to [03:10] [music] society is something that must [03:12] be praised and admired. While right now, [03:14] it is often publicly shamed and thus [03:15] [music] even often hidden. Karedi [03:18] soldiers need to come out of the [03:19] shadows, hold their heads high and be [03:22] seen as the heroes that they are. [03:24] Furthermore, lei civil service in [03:27] education, hospitals, ambulances, [03:29] agriculture, [music] and more must be [03:31] also open for to join. For example, if [03:34] kharedim value the importance of [03:36] learning and teaching Torah, while [03:38] Israel's education system has a subpar [03:40] Torah curriculum, Israel should offer [03:42] programs and train some khaledim as [03:44] educators for the larger society, [03:46] opening up new avenues [music] for civil [03:48] service. Lastly, it's important not to [03:51] forget to call out the silent players [03:53] behind the scenes who are happy to see [03:55] the chaos flourish and who perceive [03:57] Khedim as a threat. As much as these [03:59] political voices and institutions [04:01] criticize Kharedim for not joining the [04:03] army, they simultaneously do everything [04:05] behind closed doors to keep Kharim [04:08] separate from the IDF or the rest of [04:09] society out of fear [music] that this [04:11] would change Israel's current culture [04:13] and what that would mean for an Israel [04:15] that often doesn't really value Torah [04:17] and only highlights performative [04:19] Judaism. Some politicians, bureaucrats, [04:21] and media corporations profit not only [04:23] from external conflicts and war, but [04:25] love to harp on any story that can [04:27] exaggerate, [music] [04:28] manipulate, or falsely representing [04:30] Israel tearing itself from within. The [04:32] reality here is that aed with a torn [04:35] shirt stopping traffic along the highway [04:36] will make headlines everywhere, while [04:38] Khadim risking their lives to join [04:40] combat [music] units and risk being [04:42] ostracized from their community will [04:44] always be ignored. If you are watching [04:46] this [music] video, this is your call to [04:48] be a part of the cultural change Israel [04:50] needs. It is our generation's turn to [04:52] create a society that is inclusive, [04:54] holistic, and that brings [music] each [04:56] beautiful piece of amal together for us [04:58] to fulfill our ultimate mission in this [05:00] world. There are solutions to the [05:02] problems we [music] face. But if most of [05:04] us have given up hope and have bought [05:06] into the narrative that one [music] side [05:07] is bound to be against the other, then [05:09] we have lost before we have even begun. [05:12] Unity will not come from uniformity. We [05:14] are not one tribe. We are many that need [05:17] to work together again as one nation.
Can Shalom Bayit with Israel’s Ultra Orthodox Haredi Jews be achieved?
One of the hottest topics concerning Israeli society is the integration Vs rejection of Haredi Jews. Most outlets seek to minimize, ostracize, or demonize the other, preventing us from understanding the intricacies and needs of both the secular and religious populations.
We seek to heal the divide from its source and to understand not only why we are here, but how to authentically move forward while keeping both seemingly clashing identities intact.
Check out @ShalomBayitNow for more.
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Video by @KavanaFilms
