There has been much discussion of late in Israel regarding to the so-called ‘working chareidim’, those members of the chareidi community who have decided to leave the beis medrash and join the workforce.
Yahadut Hatorah MKs including Moshe Gafne and Yaakov Asher have stated repeatedly “there is no such thing as working chareidi”. However, the reality is that this is a growing group as more residents of the chareidi tzibur in Israel identify with this designation.
Some believe the working chareidim will divide their vote, as one group will remain traditional and vote for Yahadut Hatorah in the upcoming national elections for the 20th Knesset.
Interestingly, some community representatives have met with Shas party leader Aryeh Deri, who promised to assist them. Deri reportedly told them he will assist them in getting their children into the proper schools. This seems somewhat bold considering Sephardim continue complaining the Ashkenazim discriminate against their children in the chareidi mosdos, so how will Deri open the door to the working chareidim? MK Asher commented on the schooling issue in an interview in recent days with chareidi radio. He insists that no child is rejected from a school because a father works, explaining “There are many other variables that are considered before accepting a child and undoubtedly the other issues are what resulted in a child being rejected”.
The third group of the working chareidim have met with Eli Yishai and seem prepared to cast their vote for the Yachad party, which they feel will be best suited and interested in assisting them. While there may not be an official declaration to avoid politicizing their plight, many ‘working chareidim’ are expected to back Yishai, whose party they view as speaking to their agenda as opposed to Yahadut Hatorah which admittedly places its first priority on the needs of the lomdei torah and their families.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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11 Responses
I thought since Adomm’s cheit all men are supposed to work? silly me learning Torah AND working.
If they have left the Beis Medrash, never returning to learn and daven, then they are not hareidim.
If they work within the yeshiva world (teachers, administrators, businesses providing goods and services within the hareidi community), or even outside the community (working for, or selling things to non-frum), but are still engaged in learning and davening and doing mitsvos, then they really aren’t that distinct a group.
If they left the frum world to pursue of military career, and are still Shomer Mitsvos, they probably will not be supporting Shas or Yahadut ha-Torah, and might lean towards Yachad (as a Hardal party, for hareidim who want to fight the goyim).
The question to ask is how many hareidim will base their decisions on voting on factors other than who is best placed to protect the hareidi community, factors such as national security, economics, etc. Whom they work for (the IDF, a private enterprise, themselves, a yeshiva or some other frum institution) is irrelevant.
@nowecant – (1) After the cheit of Adam, Man was cursed with “bi’zeias apecha tochal lechem.” The Torah also says, “Kol ha’mikabeil ohl Torah, ma’avirin mei’alav ohl malchus v’ohl derech eretz.” I guess the curse is not dealt out universally/unilaterally. (2) Ameilus b’Torah is also work. (Have you ever tried, for 4-5 hours straight, twice a day, to be involved in deep, demanding, intellectual pursuits? Add to that the night seder, tutoring, homework, etc.?) (3) An important distinction must be made here between working chareidim and “those who decided to leave the Beis Medrash” as is noted above. (4) Are we so disturbed by the Republicans who fight for the rich or the Democrats who fight for the working class and “non-working, welfare taking” class?
#1, did I miss somthing? Since when is it a mitzvah to keep a curse? If that was true we shouldn’t let our wives get epidural because chava was cursed to have hard childbirth! We should also not let anyone help her take care of the kids because she was cursed with that also.
Some arguments against kollel might be decent, but most aren’t really thought out too well.
Some working Hareidim will support Yachad because of its message. Torah, national security and Jewish values without sectarianism. In general, people who work are more open to working with people beyond their shteeble. Yachad is the best choice. It’s just a shame that Tekumah didn’t join. They would have had the potential to surpass Benett and his Bayit.
“If they have left the Beis Medrash, never returning to learn and daven, then they are not hareidim. ”
If someone really has left the Beit Midrash and *never* learns or davens, how can that person be called Orthodox? In fact, most Jews for 3,000 years have both learned and worked. Kollel for all is a recent innovation.
Those who are employed are looking for a party that will enhance working conditions, better transportation, child care, vocational & academic training, fair employment options & non discrimination for religious observances in the work place.
Bnei Torah who are employed need a voice that advocates for their needs, really quite pshut & necessary..
@charliehall – “Kollel for all is a recent innovation.” You may be right. But it was the innovation of our Gedolim who collectively saw this is what the generation needed. The Einei Ha’Eidah are called that precisely because they see what we cannot. Their seichel is so in harmony, is so connected, with the life-giving Torah, the very blueprint of the world and how it functions daily, the the Torah which is timeless and provides the answers to all the world’s concerns, that they too are “istakeil b’Oraysa” and are shutfin in the “u’borei oilam.”
As a working charadi in Jerusalem, I see the importance of the election in this order:
1. security
2. prosperity
3. money for the charadim
Since the charadim are not in the government, and the charadi schools are doing OK, number 3 is not an issue to me.
However Numbers 1 and 2 are relevant, and since Bibi has given us both, I will probably vote for him.
#6. Don’t confused them with the truth.
garlic [9]
You might as well vote for Yahadut Hatorah which stated they won’t sit with the left, so a vote for them is also a vote for Netanyahu, no?