According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, poverty among chareidi families in Eretz Yisrael is significantly higher than the general population.
The report states that in 2007, some 30% of the chareidi population had to forgo buying food due to difficult economic realities, about double the figure in the non-frum population during the same year.
Another alarming statistic reported in the daily HaMevaser states that 40% of the nation’s children were categorized as at risk to become poverty stricken as compared to 33% in 2001. It is pointed out the figures relate to a time prior to the current economic crisis, and currently, the numbers are worse than in 2007.
The report goes on to report one half of Israeli society does not succeed in making ends mete, having to do without basics including food items, medical care and heating during winter months. Over recent years, the number of Israelis forgoing food purchases due to monetary concerns has risen 50%.
28% of those involved in the study stated they feel impoverished 70% confirm that money worries have compelled them to do without heating in winter and air conditioning during summer months as well as enhanced health coverage or dental care.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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4 Responses
please keep your cynicism to yourself. have you forgone anything to help anyone less fortunate or are you the armchair quarterback with a comment for every occassion
This is an interesting dilemma. Chareidi Rabbanim and families willingly refuse to have the men work for a living. In fact, those that do work are ostracized from their communities and have problems finding schools for their children. The Rabbanim state, “Don’t go into the corrupt business world! It will make you non-religious!” So they have to knowingly and intentionally live on the welfare of the Israeli community and on the tzedaka of Kllal Yisroel, and perhaps the wife earns a small income on a part time mostly unskilled job. Apparently 30% do not completely provide their children with the bare necessities such as heat in the winter or the ready availability of food. Most are too embarrassed to go to the Rabbanim to complain and others truly believe that this is a holy thing to do and simply accept it as it is, at the expense of their children and their own health.
What do the leaders of the Torah world have to say? The situation worsens every day. The train is heading to a cliff and it picks up speed as time goes by. When the Israeli chilonim have had enough and say “Dayeinu, Ad Kan v’zehu!” (as some are starting to say), who will feed and clothe, pay for summer camps, marry off, and buy diros for all of our young??? Acheinu b’Artzos HaBris are becoming more and more limited as to what they can offer, as their own children are following the Eretz Yisroel lead and are refusing to work and staying in learning full time expecting parents and society to support them, their children, their homes, their tuitions, their children’s summer camps, etc..
I just can’t help but remember that a similar but different event occurred just 70 years ago. The Amay Ho’Aretz said “Get out of Europe, did you read Mein Kamph? Hitler will burn European Jewry to the ground. Get out while you still can!”. The Rabbanim said, “Stay! There is nowhere else to go, we will be fine. The Germans were good to us in World War I, they are a cultured, educated people. Don’t go to Israel as they will make you non-religious.” Chazal and the Gemara teach us, that when Hashem wants to punish the flock, he blinds its leaders. Those who understood these matters on their own, saved themselves by leaving Europe before the war.
The train keeps picking up more passengers, barrels faster and faster, closer and closer to the cliff of Chareidi communal economic collapse and our Torah leadership appears to be refusing to change course. “Almost everyone is managing, why change course?” Who am I but a simple Am Ho’aretz. What do I know? We all believe that under normal circumstances, the Rabbanim, Daas HaTorah knows best. But is this a normal circumstance and is one required to understand on their own?
I would like to see exactly what the poll question was? If the question posed was simply: “Did you in the past 3 months not purchase an ‘essential’ food item due to money concerns”? than of course the numbers will be very high. But such a question does not translate into hunger!
As somebody who is deeply involved here in tzefat, I dont know a single chareidi family that either the kids or parents are going to bed hungry. Yes, many of them have to dilute their milk (as in fact my kids do as well) and items like eggs are limited to 1 egg per child under 10 y.o. and 2 eggs limit for everybody else. And many can not afford items like butter, so make due instead with jelly or humus ect..
But this is not called ‘hunger’! This is called ‘making do with what you have.’ And Baruch Hashem chareidim for the most part are satisfied with this lifestyle.
avi
As a volunteer of Mesila (an organization that helps people to handle finances better) I can say from experience that most people over spend and buy things, including food, that they don’t need and can do with out. Most people waste a lot of money and do not prioritize correctly. Many hide behind Bitachon and Gemachim. Most times people just need re-education on how to budget. But unfortunately there quite a number of people who say tzi kumt mir.
Gmar Tov to all.