Integration of Haredim in Israel's Workforce

Earlier this week, at the Jewish Funders Network conference in San Diego, I participated in a panel on the need to assist Haredim in Israel integrate into the workforce.

Two researchers presented data indicating that, today, an increasing percentage of haredi men are getting jobs and are no longer studying Torah full-time – 51% as opposed to 34% in 2003. This rate of participation in the economy is still much lower than the national level, but the multi-year trend indicates slow and steady growth. Israel's government has declared haredi workforce integration a national priority, and one of the panelists even announced in the name of a senior official that the Ministry of Finance will match private donations for this cause dollar for dollar (this has yet to be confirmed).

We at the Friedberg Foundation – Yedidut Toronto have been assisting haredi men who decide to integrate into the Israeli workforce since 2007, when the subject drew little public interest. In just short of a decade, we have invested many millions of dollars on this cause annually.

The large number of funders who attended the JNF panel session indicates that this cause is in evolving from a niche area of philanthropic activity into a mainstream cause.

My function on the panel was to give advice to funders who are considering investing in this space.

First, I explained why we got involved.

Our philanthropic mission is to identify unmet social needs at an early stage, formulate and fund effective and scalable solutions, and gradually phase out once governmental agencies step in. And our main field of interest is empowerment - assisting underprivileged individuals to transition from a state of dependency on society, to one of self-sufficiency and fulfillment. We have created numerous programs for a wide range of beneficiaries including youth at risk, single mothers, victims of domestic abuse, families struggling with poverty, children with educational challenges, and people with mental health issues.

Helping haredim join the workforce was a natural application of our philanthropic mission. Many members of the haredi community live in poverty due to self-imposed circumstances such as having large families, dedicating many years of the husband's life to full-time Torah study, and relying on only the wife's salary. And yet, as one of the panelists emphasized, a significant fact to keep in mind is that quality-of-life surveys show time and again that haredim are among the happiest sectors in Israeli society.

We decided to invest exclusively in academic education. Vocational training programs were available via government-funded agencies, and we sought to make a unique contribution and help haredim compete for the best jobs in the country and build upwardly-mobile careers.

Within the field of academic education, we have focused predominantly on haredi men, and less so on women. The reason is that haredi women emerge from the educational system equipped with basic employment skills (high school diploma, college-level certifications) and require minimal assistance. Haredi men, on the other hand, typically lack formal education in languages, math and sciences, and are virtually unemployable in today’s job market (although they have highly-developed analytical skills as a result of years of Talmud study, which is a boon).

Our academic program serves 2,600 haredi students (90% men), 52% of whom are studying Technology and Sciences; of the 726 graduates, 88% work in upwardly-mobile jobs and 77% have jobs that require academic degrees.

My first piece of advice to new donors in this field is to become familiar with the organizational landscape. Unlike when we began our activities back in 2007, today the field is crowded with NGOs, quasi-governmental and governmental agencies. Programs overlap and, inadvertently or intentionally, sometimes compete with each other for beneficiaries. Obsolete programs refuse to die.

Next, get acquainted with the beneficiaries. Haredi society is by no means monolithic - the community is comprised of multiple micro-sectors with divergent or even conflicting worldviews. Learn to differentiate between myths, stereotypes and fact – few "outsiders" understand this community well. We try to respond to opportunities within each sector, and help individuals who have decided on their own to seek employment. We make no attempts to convince anyone to do anything.

After getting the lay of the land, I would recommend identifying unmet needs, and select the missing link with the greatest strategic potential. Then invite relevant, community-friendly NGOs to propose solutions to address these needs. The process of vetting the proposals and meeting with the NGOs will make it quite obvious who your natural partners are.

We are big believers in earmarked donations (as opposed to general grants). Tying payments to activities forces the NGO to create a business plan, strive to achieve its quantitative goals, and minimize “mission creep.” Earmarked donations empower donors to monitor activities, ensure the program remains firmly anchored to its mission, and have a seat at the table.

Once you have selected a field of activity and a local partner, become fully conversant and stay focused. Resist the temptation to spontaneously stray into uncharted waters. Fund what you know, and know what you fund.

Here are some examples of unmet needs in this field:

1. The last mile - helping haredim with professional certifications (whether academic or vocational) complete their education and become attractive candidates for high-end jobs
2. Boutique tracks - assisting haredim in high-visibility, difficult careers: e.g. Medicine, Computer Science, Psychology
3. Communal ostracism - initiatives to eliminate the negative stigma attached to working haredim, and raise their esteem
4. Getting employers on board - many non-religious employers are hesitant to employ haredim due to a lack of familiarity with haredi views and norms
5. Encouraging grass-roots activity - promoting leadership within the community

Finally, keep in mind that haredi people - like most ethnic-cultural groups - resent attempts by outsiders to “change” or “improve” their community. Do not attempt to "change them." This should all be about helping unemployed people get out of poverty. Keep philosophy out of the equation.

Try to not be judgmental. Keep your eye on the ultimate goal of helping haredim integrate into the workforce in order to improve Israel’s GDP. Don't get sidetracked into questions of army service or religious issues, which have nothing to do with GDP. Strive to create the human bond and connect as individuals. Avoid generalizations or politics at all costs!

We would be happy to provide information and advice to any donors who are contemplating entering this field of activity. Our Jerusalem headquarters is staffed by 40 dedicated, professional and multilingual staff members who would be only too happy to help you make educated philanthropic decisions.