The Haredim have been the main victim of the coronavirus, with rates four times as high as the general population.
Yet, there are some Hassidic courts and other clusters of radicals who have tried, with deceit and even violence, to lead what can only be described as a "superspreader lifestyle." The Israeli public is well aware of the fact that this is a healthcare crisis that entails potential economic calamity, and such behavior has made things even worse, in part because of the failure of law enforcement to crack down on violators. But despite all this, the Haredi leadership has used its political clout to defend the extremists and provocateurs and essentially torpedo the efforts to isolate the radicals and help bring the morbidity down.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
This political action is a symptom of a much greater phenomenon that is of great concern.
There are about a million Haredim, the vast majority of whom do not shoulder the burden of protecting Israel's security. Their participation rate in the Labor force (among men) is dozens of percent lower than that of the general population. But despite their little contribution to the economy, they get heavy subsidies from the state, on a level that is disproportionate compared to any other sector. What's worse – they have their own education system, that is funded by taxpayers and deliberately avoids the core curriculum that would give pupils what they need to enter the job market. And even if they do, they will pay less into the economy, earn comparatively less than others and pay less in taxes.
Israel's success compared to the Arab states' dysfunction in meeting the challenges of the 21 century can be best explained by the former's embrace of pluralism alongside national commitment. This combination is responsible for Israel's scientific, technological, economic and military accomplishments and to its basic freedoms, democratic system of government and the quality of life of its people. The lack of those pluralistic values in the Arab world explains best why the region is replete with oppressive regimes and why some countries are in dire economic straits and have stagnated technologically and scientifically. It is also the best explanation for why their society lacks hope. Haredi society's hardliner elements also have a severe deficit of such values; these clusters take their cues from the rabbis and political leaders, as well as Haredi media outlets and educators.
This conduct is divorced from Jewish identity and Jewish teachings. Millions of Jews in Israel have a strong Jewish experience and a strong bond with their fellow Jews even without being Haredi. A large part also observes mitzvot and abide by Jewish strictures. There are even Haredim who join the workforce, serve in the Israel Defense Forces and abide by the Health Ministry's social distancing regulations. The vast majority of Haredim know that preserving lives trumps everything else in Jewish law, and know that safeguarding the community's health and making a living are also Jewish values.
The percentage of Haredim who choose to integrate, despite being on the rise, is small. This means that overall, the Haredi sector's reliance on state welfare and security is on the rise because of their fast natural growth despite some who choose to integrate, creating an ever-growing burden on working Israelis. This has been made even worse by having Haredi leaders challenge the state's authority during the pandemic, triggering a backlash from the general population.
It is high time for all of us to unite and bolster the mainstream Haredi leaders so that those on the radical Haredi fringes are isolated and ultimately have everyone abide by the healthcare regulations. Above all we must make sure Haredim are introduced to the values and skills that allow them to contribute to society and succeed individually.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
