Letter from Israel: Encourage Haredi Employment – Gently

"Nu, and what's the problem with going out and getting a job?" he answered. "Whoever wants to work always can do so." "But rabbi," I replied, "in today's world, to make a living you need basic knowledge such as English and math." "Really?" he said, looking at me in surprise. "Whoever doesn't know math and English can't find a job? You really need all that? I didn't know."

The new Haredim / Educated, surfing soldiers in the army
On the one hand, the rabbinic and political leadership is trying with all its might to preserve the principle of separateness, even to the point of not having an idea about how Western society works. On the other hand, the ultra-Orthodox community is no longer a small and conformist community.
By Nati Tucker • Ha'aretz

He is one of the best-known rabbis in the Haredi world. Short with a gray beard - and always with a book in his hand, his word has a huge influence on vast sections of the ultra-Orthodox world. His aide asked me to drive him home after we had both made a short consolation visit to a house in mourning.

During the drive I asked him, "Rabbi, why aren't you willing to have core [non-religious] subjects taught in Haredi schools? After all, for generations fathers have been required to teach their sons a trade. Isn't it clear we also have to work?"

"Nu, and what's the problem with going out and getting a job?" he answered. "Whoever wants to work always can do so."

"But rabbi," I replied, "in today's world, to make a living you need basic knowledge such as English and math."

"Really?" he said, looking at me in surprise. "Whoever doesn't know math and English can't find a job? You really need all that? I didn't know."

That conversation reveals the complexity underlying the Haredi world. On the one hand, the rabbinic and political leadership is trying with all its might to preserve the principle of separateness, even to the point of not having an idea about how Western society works. The goal is to do everything possible to prevent young Haredim from desiring the permissive world of the non-religious - even at the price of poverty.

On the other hand, the ultra-Orthodox community is no longer a small and conformist community. Under the surface, things are starting to boil over. The poverty is already unbearable, and more people are saying that such a large group of men can no longer be locked up in study halls all day. Worst of all, a Haredi middle class is developing that keeps its old ways but occasionally wants to enjoy the pleasures of the world.

In Bnei Brak they have never heard of the OECD, or of the organization's recommendations on workforce participation in Israel. But many young Haredim no longer see themselves as an integral part of the Haredi world. They are the new Haredim. They are getting an education, serving in the Israel Defense Forces - in special frameworks - living comfortable lives, and may God have mercy, they are even surfing the Internet.

How can we calm the tension between the Haredi leadership and the masses? How can we find the proper path to encourage Haredi employment - an effective path that does not inflame the leadership and set off a war both sides will lose?

Normal methods of reward and punishment won't work here. For such a delicate balance we need a new formula. We need not a carrot and a stick but more like a baby carrot and a toothpick.

The principle is to tempt, to strike very gently - instead of an all-out war over core studies or threats of cutting off funds to Haredi institutions. It's possible to get a lot done by acting with understanding. We can deal with specific problem areas such as Haredi towns with high unemployment, instead of using huge government subsidies to encourage employment.

The discussion with central bank chief Stanley Fischer was a first step in this direction, while a petition to the High Court of Justice over core studies is a big stick - one that could make the whole solution fall apart, and one the Haredim are quite used to.

Israel cannot afford and does not have the time to use the "gentle" approach the writer advocates. The country will be in severe economic and military danger if it does.

But past that, the time for coddling haredim has long passed.

Schools that do not teach the full core curriculum should not be funded and haredi men who choose to study in yeshiva rather than work should not get welfare benefits from the state. Let the haredi community raise private charity funds to support them if it chooses, but no state funds should be used.

And for those haredim who choose to avoid the draft and who will not do national service in its stead, cut all public benefits they might have otherwise received.

On the other hand, the state should encourage and help fund job training programs and other educational services to help willing haredim get job skills and integrate into the economy, and it should should continue to support haredi institutions that adopt the core curriculum and actually teach it.

Will haredi leaders agitate and encourage riots and other violence?

Yes they will.

And I think the key reason is not to "protect" the Torah, even though that is what they will claim.

The key reason is integration of haredim into the army, the economy and the modern world will considerably weaken the influence of haredi rabbis  – especially haredi rabbis who are themselves ignorant, like the rabbi mentioned above.

So, yes, rabbi-inspired violence will happen.

But there is a state-funded method to deal with it and that state funded method should be used. It's called prison.

But to it I'd add a special twist.

In lieu of work programs or prison yeshiva studies, teach these haredi prisoners math, English, and science – especially evolution, biology and sciences and other disciplines related to the age of the universe.

That will greatly reduce rabbis' calls to violence. And it will make these haredim confront the knowledge they've spent their lives fearing and avoiding.

Comments

[rabbidw]

Prison and education. And no welfare. That's the ticket. Now which politician is going to risk the chareidim bringing down the government?
Eliminate the vote from all who do not serve at least is alternate service.

[chaim1]

In lieu of work programs or prison yeshiva studies, teach these haredi prisoners math, English, and science – especially evolution, biology and sciences and other disciplines related to the age of the universe.

That will greatly reduce rabbis' calls to violence. And it will make these haredim confront the knowledge they've spent their lives fearing and avoiding.

Is this about getting the charedim into the work force, or is it about getting them to become chilonim. Or are the two connected.

[rebeljew]

While I most agree with your analysis, Shmarya, I disagree with the solution. You view accommodating the Haredim as "coddling" them, which implies that they are petulant children or criminals. Remember, I agree with your analysis and what you say about the Haredi society and their Rabbis. I also agree that they pose many challenges to other sectors of civil society in much the same way as the Southern "redneck" population did in the early 1900 - 1960s (and does, albeit less prolifically today).

However, we cannot lose sight of the fact that Israel was meant as a homeland for all Jews, who were permanently safe nowhere else, not even in the US. The Haredim are part of the larger Jewish society, and like them or not, agree with them or not, want to tolerate their shenanigans or not, they have a share in Israel. Not only that, but Israel is built on the principle of liberty, which means that they can object tot eh very existence of the state without ceding their share. They can commit violent acts, which ultimately submit to civil authority, but which not cede their share of Israel. Just like rednecks who rejected the "gubment", promote separatism, promote bigotry and self importance including violence (Klan anyone?), reject state education and civil standards in the US, we have met the Haredi Jewish redneck enemy and they are us.

That being the case, as much as we'd like to change them, they won't change and they are in Israel to stay (if the mission of Israel stays true) so we'd best find a way to live with them, and it won't begin with disrespect. To paraphrase a different political situation, there is no military solution, only diplomacy, and diplomacy begins with respect, even if it was not earned by integrity.

[Menachem Mendel lll]

"SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A TINY STICK"

-Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919) best know for his tiny stick philosophy.

[who knows]

Agree with Shmarya's analysis 100%. The time to coddle haredim have passed over 50 years ago and now, if we are lucky, we might have a little time for the measures of last resort only.

[Shmarya]

That being the case, as much as we'd like to change them, they won't change and they are in Israel to stay (if the mission of Israel stays true) so we'd best find a way to live with them, and it won't begin with disrespect. To paraphrase a different political situation, there is no military solution, only diplomacy, and diplomacy begins with respect, even if it was not earned by integrity.

we've tried diplomacy (and bribes, for that matter) for 62 years already.

Enough is enough.

[harold]

"But rabbi," I replied, "in today's world, to make a living you need basic knowledge such as English and math."

Not a logically correct statement and the Rabbi picked up on it. There are jobs out there that do not require English and Math (Math, not arithmetic). Cashier, baker, sanitation, truck driver, gardener, the list goes on. What English and Math does is that it opens up more opportunities for employment.

Haredim need to have incentives to go out to work. Once the desire gets ignited they themselves will want too have the tools and opportunities to get the best jobs. They will ask to be taught what the market desires from them.

It is clear that they must stop being reliant on the govt as their support system. They must be weaned off the system while options get put in place. A time limit of sorts must be put in place with a decreasing level of support. Training and schooling options must be put in place. Job fairs and placement centers must be set up with required attendance. Their appetite must be wetted as to what opportunities are out there and how far away from obtaining those opportunities their training or schooling has taken them too.

The old carrot and stick logic – makes sense to me.

[chaim1]

There are a few posts covering the same subject.
No these charedim are lost today they will never work. You wont whet their apetite to.
No its their children one must get hold of.
like i wrote on the other posts.

[justayid]

"Yes they will.

And I think the key reason is not to "protect" the Torah, even though that is what they will claim.

The key reason is integration of haredim into the army, the economy and the modern world will considerably weaken the influence of haredi rabbis – especially haredi rabbis who are themselves ignorant, like the rabbi mentioned above."

Has participation in the economy by American Haredim significantly weakened the influence of haredi rabbis among the american haredi community?

[rebeljew]

Shmarya

One thing that we haven't tried is respectful discourse. Granted, both sides make such discourse virtually impossible, the Haredi side perhaps even moreso than the secular. But both seem to delight in sticking to each other and working to spite each other. Without the extraordinary statesmanship to find a way to negotiate, there is no way forward. Cutting the Haredim loose, essentially what you are suggesting (Israel, love it or leave it), compromises the very mission of Israel.

Sadly, in the US, we have experience with this for the last 50 years, and it has produced the most contentious and fractious environment, but the system is strong and stable. Ultimately, the Haredim are not people that we have power over, they are a sometimes belligerent and contentious sibling who co-inherited an enterprise and is now a sometimes malevolent partner. They were successfully kept out of the drivers seat at the time of the formation of the government, but I am not sure that we have a moral or legal right to impose upon their lifestyle, disagreeable as it may be and even imposing upon the central government as it may be. I feel you are missing the big picture here.

[Shmarya]

One thing that we haven't tried is respectful discourse.

That isn't true. Just ask early Mafdal politicians or their families.

There was a an attempt to have civil discourse with haredim.

But haredim kept making promises, breaking them and playing the discrimination card at every turn.

Either concessions were made to haredim or they rioted or threatened to bring down a government or published 'newspaper' 'reports' smearing any politician who dared to oppose them.

[rebeljew]

I think you can figure out which terms could exchange for others in order to accurately describe the civil rights battles of 40 years ago in the US. My purpose was not to defend the Haredim, but the non-Haredi must accept the Haredi permanently, not as aliens but as partners. They are not a side to be changed by force or to be told to put up or shut up.

Respectful discourse here and now is the only way out, whether it was tried in the 50s or not. Israel is not a state for 80% of the Jewish nation. The only reaction we are leaving them is open rebellion.

And the respect must go both ways. If the Haredim expect the non-Haredim to accommodate, they will need to show a willingness not to ostracize most of the Jewish people.

The only other direction available is a two state solution. Haredim would not stand much of a chance running their own state. It would collapse under the same infighting and unwillingness to be pragmatic that make them such difficult partners.