The Charedi (Ultra Orthodox) Community’s Response to the Crisis

Unprecedented numbers of Charedim have enlisted to the IDF since October 7 and have altered the way the army sees that community and vice versa. Charedi volunteers have also stepped up to care for bereaved and evacuated families, lead collection of human remains for identifications and perform civilian duties like driving supplies and equipment. How could this affect long-term social cohesion in Israel and impact the Israeli economy?

We are hosting weekly conversations so you can hear directly about the evolving situation on the ground, from the ground.

This week, we heard from:

• Eli Paley, owner of Mishpacha Media Group and publisher of the Mishpacha weekly magazine the largest Charedi and religious publication in Israel and abroad, published in Hebrew and English. He is a businessman, philanthropist and social activist, and is chairman of the Paley Family Foundation which supports and promotes social initiatives in the Charedi community. He recently wrote this OpEd: Israel’s civil society stands strong amid war, led by unbreakable Haredi spirit
• Chana Irom, founder of Sisters of Iron, a woman-to-woman volunteer effort coordinating emergency response in the back of a wig store.

Each update includes briefings followed by grassroots leaders in conversation with Charlene Seidle, Executive Vice President of Leichtag Foundation and Impact Cubed.