Surprising data published today (Thursday) by the Central Bureau of Statistics present a challenging picture regarding the impression created recently, following the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox Jews in the IDF during the "Iron Swords" war.
The general feeling prevailing among the public during the months of the campaign, according to which there has been a real disillusionment in the attitude of Haredi society to the army, is initiated in light of the statistic stating that about 70% of the recruits defined in the IDF as Haredi are immigrants from Haredi society and are not Haredi in the present.
Many studies presented indicated a more positive attitude toward serving soldiers, and shorter second stage tracks for older Haredim, most of them with families, and planted hope that perhaps Israeli society is on the threshold of a revolution that will also cause the younger ultra-Orthodox generation to flock en masse to the army.
Ultra-Orthodox soldiers at the swearing-in ceremony, photo: Dudi Vaknin
During the war, about 14 veterans of ultra-Orthodox society fell while serving in the IDF. To many, the number seemed unusual, but the data published this morning explain the phenomenon.
Former members of the community – 72% of all recruits from ultra-Orthodox backgrounds
A study conducted over the past year in the research department of Going for Change by Zvika Deutsch – the organization's principal researcher, who holds a master's degree in economics and a master's degree in statistics, and a former researcher at MJB – shows that data from the Central Bureau of Statistics over the past decade show that there has been a significant and ongoing decline in the share of those serving among Haredim from Haredi backgrounds, and at the same time an increase in the rate of those leaving the Haredi community who serve in the army.
This increase, together with higher exit rates at a young age, moderated the decline in the share of those serving among men from Haredi backgrounds. The analysis also shows that based on the latest data for young adults (29-20), those leaving constitute 72% of all recruits from Haredi backgrounds.
In addition, the study found that there is a downward trend in the service rate of those with Haredi backgrounds who remained Haredi (54% served among those aged 30-10, while among those aged 29-20 only 4% served), and an increase in the service rate of veterans (among those aged 54-30, 52% served, while among those aged 29-20, 63% served).
The analysis is based on the Social Survey of the Central Bureau of Statistics, which makes it possible to identify by self-definition the level of religiosity of the respondent's family in the past (when he was 15) and the level of religiosity in the present, and according to self-report whether the respondent served in the army.
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