According to information released by the Shaked Committee, 3,550 chareidim have already served in a national service program. Israel Police is now interested in recruiting 2,200 chareidi volunteers but not more due to logistics involved in accommodating them.

1,442 chareidim are currently serving in a national service program and 438 were dismissed from such programs, sent back to the IDF after officials determined they were not fulfilling their obligations.

The statistics were presented to the committee by Shalom Jerbi, who heads the nation’s national service programs. Of the national service volunteers, 55% are serving in government service, 30% in organizations operating in the chareidi sector and 15% in organizations under chareidi leadership but serving the general population. One example of the latter is Yad Sarah.

According to Jerbi, 20% opted to serve 20 hours weekly for two years while the remainder is serving 40 hours weekly for a year. 56% of the volunteers are married with two children. 39% of them are ages 24-25, 28% are 26-27 while 18% are 22-23. Jerbi explained that a talmid yeshiva who receives a deferment from military service is not eligible for national service. He explains “many chareidim” who are released from IDF duty are trying to get into a national service program “because it is an entry card to the workplace”. Today however this is not possible and national service programs can only accept a chareidi who was not released from IDF service.

MK (The Movement) Elazar Stern was outraged over the words of Yair Dornfeld from the Homeland Security Ministry as he described the limitations imposed for chareidi volunteers, limitations that significantly complicate assigning them. They do not work on Shabbos and cannot be assigned with women.

“You are not trying enough” said Stern, “for the manpower shortage is all of our problem, first and foremost all those serving three years. We want to lighten their load.” Stern is critical of police, explaining “The IDF can also say ‘we can’t induct chareidim’”.

Police official Alex Pearlman says the police chareidi traffic enforcement unit is a huge success. He adds however police cannot accept more than 2,200 chareidim for in a unit of 20 policemen, 10 do not work on Shabbos. Pearlman adds he is also responsible for making certain that the chareidi presence does not compromise the position of females.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)