Learning about our Haredi brothers and sisters in Israel

Israel’s Haredi (who self-define as “strictly Orthodox”) have traditionally participated less than other sectors of society in the labor force, with almost half of all men dedicating their time to study, while women often go to work. Due to a traditional lifestyle, lack of advanced secular education and high birth rate, many Haredi women are not employed in lucrative positions and do not earn top salaries. The fact that many Haredi families earn only one wage, and a low one, at that, has led to a high poverty rate and reliance on government subsidies and tzedakah .

But a new study shows promise with rising educational and employment levels. The Israel Democracy Institute found that 53.5% of Haredi men are employed, compared to 80% of women. These numbers are low compared to non-Haredis, but progress is being made, with employment among men at its 25-year high, and at a historic high among women.

While the number of employed Haredis is rising–improving their standard of living and diminishing their dependence on subsidies–there is still much to be done to narrow the wage gaps. The average Haredi man is earning only 53% of what his non-Haredi peers earn, while Haredi women earn 73% of their peers’ incomes.

The story is mixed though when it comes to education. This year saw a rise in female high school graduates, but a decline in male grads. The Haredi independent school system educates 373,000 students, ages 6-18. Among high school seniors, 59% of girls took at least one final high school examination this year (five to eight are the typical requirement for university entry)-up from 31% a decade ago. The number of Haredi boys graduating has declined in the same time period from 16% to 15%, with the vast majority studying instead in a yeshiva, which does not teach core subjects and does not award a recognized high school diploma.

Overall, the Haredi population in Israel is growing–even as their birth rate has diminished. Out of a total of 9.4 million Israelis, nearly 1.3 million are Haredi. The annual growth rate among Haredis is 4%–the highest among developed countries. Their proportion of the population has grown from 10% in 2009 to 13.6% today.

By 2030, Haredis will represent 16% of Israelis, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics. This is so despite their birth rate decline: from an average of 7.5 children per mother in 2003 to 6.5 per mother in 2020. Other Israelis average 2.5 children per mother. In other words, the proportional size of the Haredi population is growing, albeit at a slower pace.

Finally, all these numbers explain the low Haredi economic standard of living, with a poverty rate of 44% in 2020, twice as high as Israel’s national average. The average monthly wage among employed Haredis is roughly $1,000, half that of their non-Haredi peers. The commensurate average spending among Haredis is, then, lower too, also by half.  

Given these statistics, one might presume that Haredis are less happy than non-Haredis. However, 82% of Haredis reported that their mental health is excellent, as opposed to 58% of non-Haredis; 61% ranked their happiness at the highest level, compared with 24% of non-Haredis. Only 18% of Haredis reported feeling lonely or isolated, as opposed to 32% of non-Haredis.  

The study concludes that there was a marked rise in the number of employed Haredi women during the COVID pandemic, with the majority employed in social services and education and only few in the higher-paying hi-tech sector.

Looking to the future, more Haredis are participating in higher learning than ever before. The challenge for those of us committed to strengthening Israel–by helping all Israelis–is to meet Haredim where they are: respecting and even envying the pure joy that animates much of their lives. We will also help our Haredi neighbors navigate the dual requirements of their devout and festive practices–with 21st century economic realities and opportunities.

Ofer Bavly is a JUF Vice President and the Director General of the JUF Israel Office.