President Meets With Haredi Mayors, Warns Of Need For Integration

"In 2018, almost a quarter of the first grade students in Israel will be from the haredi community. This community is no longer a minority and we must understand this and adjust our concept regarding the nature of the relationship – no longer as that of a majority and minority but of a partnership between the haredi community and the general public."

 

Speaking to the Forum of Haredi Mayors, Israeli President Reuven "Ruby" Rivlin spoke about integration of haredim into wide Israeli society:

In 2018, almost a quarter of the first grade students in Israel will be from the haredi community. This community is no longer a minority and we must understand this and adjust our concept regarding the nature of the relationship – no longer as that of a majority and minority but of a partnership between the haredi community and the general public.

Within this partnership, first and foremost it is our duty to desist from patronization. The general public, which I am part of, cannot and should not determine for the haredi public how and in which way to educate their children. A partnership means creating a discourse between all sectors of society, not as one which is characterized by forceful coercion, but as a discourse that is underlined by understanding, and outlines a path to the future.…

Every one of us bears responsibility for the future of Israel. We all need to be concerned for Israeli society, the Israeli economy and join in our existential fight here.

The State of Israel today encourages the integration of haredi public into the labor market, and into the civil service, but must also open its doors by recognizing their religious studies," he continued. "We need to aspire to see within public service haredi representatives relative to their size within the population. We must find a way to overcome obstacles, either by legislation or government decisions.…

The President's office is willing to cooperate with the leaders of the private economic sector in an effort to incorporate more haredi workers into the labor market and facilitate with this integration. This matter must be taken to heart.

As mayors you are among the leaders of the haredi community, and I believe that together we can collaborate and bring about this desired change. The haredi community will benefit, and so will the entire Israeli society, and our common future here.

For their part, the mayors complained about discrimination, but did so without ever admitting that their community's refusal to serve in the IDF or perform national civilian service, the large number of haredi males who refuse to work even when jobs are available for them, and their community's insistence on producing an extremely large number of children who get little to no secular education and who will not work or serve the country is in any way problematic. The haredi community exists on charity and various welfare benefits, and those welfare benefits are paid through the high taxes of the non-haredi Israelis who work and who risk their lives serving in the IDF – something the haredi mayors showed no appreciation for.

Here are some of the comments made by these haredi mayors, as quoted by Arutz Sheva:

"During the disaster in Nepal we witnessed the Chabad House, ZAKA rescue and Hatzalah - three haredi organizations, leading volunteer rescue operations," Chairman of the haredi Regional Councils Forum and Mayor of Beitar Illit, Rabbi Meir Rubinstein stated. "For some reason, when it comes to the political issues we are treated differently."

"A request of any party political is called 'negotiations,' but when it comes to the haredi parties, it is suddenly called "extortion," he claimed. "Incitement against the haredi sector should not be allowed." Concluding his speech, Rubinstein asked the President, on behalf of the forum members, to work to change the method of budgeting in the country, which currently discriminates against weak local authorities.

"The atmosphere is poisoned," Rabbi Hanoch Zeibert, Mayor of Bnei Brak, added. "Once we were considered families "blessed with many children", later changed it to a "family with many children", and today it has become "problems of families with children."

"In Beit Shemesh we are investing in activities and cooperation with all authorities and sectors - for example, the new police center which has been inaugurated in the city and many other activities," Mayor of Beit Shemesh, Rabbi Moshe Abutul, claimed. "On the other hand, whatever we're supposed to get, I have to beg for. There are no proper arrangements for educational infrastructure, classes, public institutions, etc. The government vision must change."

Mayor of Modi’in Illit, Rabbi Yaakov Gutterman said, "We are citizens with equal rights. We are not supposed to beg to get what we deserve. A haredi citizen does not enjoy the same opportunities. Everything we received was achieved through lobbying and pleas. The method is to turn us into beggars. There is discrimination in special education as well as related to employment."

"Polarization is rife within the public today," Mayor of Elad, Rabbi Yisrael Porush, concluded. "Something bad is happening within the Israeli public. Order needs to be made in all walks of life here. We are clearly discriminated against, especially in comparison to other cities in the country. It is time to change the atmosphere as well as the method."

If 28% of elementary students will be haredi in 2018, that means that by 2031, 28% of Israeli draft age men will refuse to serve. By 2050, that number approaches 50%. That is the true discrimination – and the true danger – Israel faces.

Comments

[Sarek]

>>The general public, which I am part of, cannot and should not determine for the haredi public how and in which way to educate their children.

Right. No need to make them learn those pesky 3 R's. If it ain't in Torah (the way they interpret it anyway), it ain't worth knowin'.

[Miggo Wagga]

Ruven Rivlin's superb leadership never ceases to amaze me. He was proven himself to be the very best friend Haredim have, and for that matter, he's the best friend Israel has. He is reaching out to the Haredi mayors, giving them the chance to come to the table. Generally, I think the Haredi mayors whined too much, but they are right about one thing. Haredim are heavily discriminated against in employment and this absolutely has to be addressed. Employers should not be allowed to discriminate against Haredim, but that doesn't mean Haredim should have leave to be lazy either.

[WoolSilkCotton; I must be seen to be believed]

So how many days off do you need this month to cover all your religious holidays and family simchas?

[jimmy]

Scotty,
U said it yourself.In one generation you and your ilk will be history
You conveniently forgot that besides the Chareidim you hate so much, the Modern Orthodox and the Religous Settlers will also be a growing and significant percentage of the pouplation.50% Chareidi,another 25% Orthodox leaves no place for you and your ilk.
Sorry 'bout that,Scotty

[Rocky]

Haredi first graders are even a larger part of the Jewish first grade cohort. Naftali Bennett used the figure of 32% for the latter in October 2013 in a Jerusalem Post article. The doomsday clock is ticking away.

[Elliot]

WSC,
I understand your point, but many of us can cover our religious holidays by upgrading our work ethic the other days. 12 hour days? No problem. Sundays? No problem. Christmas Day? No problem. You're absolutely right that many people use religious observance as a pretext for laziness, but I see that a lazy problem, not a religion problem.