Haredi news

Ultra-Orthodox party paralyzes Knesset votes to force through military draft exemptions

The most recent proposal advanced is a bill that would halt the arrests of haredi draft evaders, which is set to be debated on Tuesday in the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

|ByKESHET NEEV
Protesters supporting the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men into the Israeli military block a road in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, central Israel, in protest against the continued road blockades by ultra-Orthodox demonstrators following the arrest of draft evaders, June 26, 2026.
A haredi man looks on as traffic builds at Hemed Interchange on Highway 1 amid ultra-Orthadox anti-draft protests, June 24, 2026.

Following hours of haredi draft protests, Israeli highways reopen to traffic

Protests cause heavy traffic on 29 major roads • Social media footage shows protesters and secular citizens in violent physical altercations • MKs Goldknopf, Malkieli attended protests

|ByALON HACHMON, AVI SOLOMON, AARON GLICK
A haredi (ultra-Orthodox) anti-draft protester holds a banner reading "Even those who do not learn in Yeshiva need to stay Jewish. It's forbidden to commit spiritual suicide in the IDF's crematoriums," during an anti-draft protest at the IDF's Jerusalem recruitment center, April 12, 2026.

Derech eretz lost - Why the proposed Basic Law betrays our sacred covenant - opinion

When this war began, there was a brief, powerful moment of unity. We believed that the existential threat would finally force a consensus: every capable citizen must contribute to the state's defense

|BySHIRA TZACHI
Ultra-Orthodox Jews clash with police outside the IDF Recruitment Center at Tel Hashomer, central Israel, April 28, 2025

A-G to High Court: Gov’t has not adopted economic sanctions plan against haredi draft dodgers

The Attorney-General warned the High Court that the government failed to plan for revoking benefits from Haredi draft evaders, despite data showing financial sanctions increased enlistment rates.

|BySARAH BEN-NUN

In Bnei Brak, Lag Ba’Omer celebrations abound for sage Shimon Bar Yochai

Despite warnings of heat, residents flocked to a “celebration of light.”

MAY 3, 2018ByAVRAHAM GOLD
Bnei Brak residents gather around a bonfire, singing songs in honor of the sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, May 2, 2018.

Haredi yeshiva head sentenced to 17 months for defrauding state

He was found guilty of defrauding the state of NIS 2.2m by faking student enrollment.

APRIL 29, 2018ByJEREMY SHARON
Shekel money bills

#NotMeToo?

Haredi papers ignore International Women’s Day

MARCH 21, 2018ByYOEL COHEN
The front page of a recent issue of Yated Neeman, a haredi newspaper in English

Haredi IDF enlistment targets not being met, report finds

Defense Ministry, IDF sluggish in enforcing terms of draft exemptions.

MARCH 14, 2018ByJEREMY SHARON
Israel police carry a haredi protestor during an anti-conscription demonstration in Jerusalem, March 2018

Haredim protest in Jerusalem over proposed draft law

The demonstrators blocked the entrance to the city for close to two hours until Border Police units moved in to disperse the protestors using water cannons and skunk sprays.

MARCH 8, 2018ByJEREMY SHARON
A young haredi boy wearing a "Jude" star takes part in a protest against mandatory IDF conscription, March 2018

State agrees to cancel gender-separate tour guide courses for Haredim

“This is the beginning of this struggle, and we have our first victory in hand,” said Israeli Women’s Network director Michal Gera Margaliot.

FEBRUARY 15, 2018ByJEREMY SHARON
Haredi man in Jerusalem

Haredi population tops one million

There is a record low in the poverty rate for the Haredi sector, having diminished from 58% in 2005, reflecting increased integration of Haredi men and women into the work force in recent years.

JANUARY 1, 2018ByJEREMY SHARON
INCREASED INTEGRATION of Haredim into the workforce has resulted in a record-low poverty rate in the Haredi sector.

New civil service recruits will be Haredi under new guidlines

Some seven percent of the workforce is Haredi, but although no hard statistics are available, it is thought that the representation of Haredim in the civil service is exceedingly low.

DECEMBER 17, 2017ByJEREMY SHARON
Haredi man in Jerusalem

Who will lead the Haredim?

The future of Haredim after the passing of Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman.

DECEMBER 13, 2017ByJEREMY SHARON
Ultra-Orthodox Jews gather during the funeral ceremony of prominent spiritual leader Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman, who died on Tuesday at the age of 104, in Bnei Brak

OBITUARY: Rabbi Shteinman, Haredi 'leader of the generation,' dies at 104

Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman was the long-time leader of the non-Hassidic Ashkenazi Haredi community.

DECEMBER 12, 2017ByJEREMY SHARON
Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman