Ultra-Orthodox

Shas invokes IDF soldiers in election campaign ad, drawing Gadi Eisenkot's ire

The Shas campaign video features a family gathered for a Shabbat dinner before a son returns home from his army base and embraces his family members.

Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party attends a conference in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, July 9, 2026.
Shas MK Michael Malchieli attends a conference for West Bank sovereignty at the Knesset, July 21, 2025.

'Malchieli is a murderer!' Shas condemns protests against MK over haredi draft law

 THE ZIONIST identity didn’t overcome the Jewish identity, nor did the opposite occur: An IDF soldier puts on tefillin.

National-religious men overrepresented in IDF reserves as haredim stay absent, IDI analysis finds

Ultra-Orthodox protesters demonstrate against a cafe operating on Shabbat and clash with Israeli police, while secular protesters hold a counter-demonstration in support of the cafe in central Jerusalem, August 8, 2026.

Haredi protesters block Jerusalem cafe amid ongoing months-long dispute over Shabbat opening


Senior rabbi claims comments attacking religious Zionists' IDF service were misinterpreted

"We may encounter people who differ from our way of life, and it is imperative to be careful of any arguments with them regarding our differing views," he stated at a conference for community rabbis.

Rabbi Dov Lando, head of the Slabodka yeshiva in Bnei Brak arrives to deliver a lesson at the Mir Yeshiva, in the ultra orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim, Jerusalem, September 19, 2023.

Hundreds of haredim protest outside military prison following draft dodger arrest

The arrested hassidic man had earlier arrived at a draft office to arrange an exemption from service before being sentenced to 20 days in prison, according to the report.

Thousands of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men from the Gur (Hasidic dynasty) protest outside Military Prison near Kfar Yona, central Israel, against the jailing of seminary students who failed to comply with an army recruitment order, July 20, 2026.

Haredi leader attacks religious Zionists for fighting in Israeli ‘murder’ wars, PM condemns remarks

Prime Minister Netanyahu and Lando's Degel Hatorah faction of the UTJ Party clashed after the latter's comments, with the PM defending soldiers and the party warning against attacking Torah scholars.

 Rabbi Dov Lando seen during a meeting to discuss the drafting of ultra-Orthodox jews to the IDF in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, April 5, 2024.

New haredi party launches, aiming to secure spot in Knesset ahead of elections

The new ultra-Orthodox Haredi Public Party led by the deputy mayor of Beit Shemesh, Moti Leitner, launched on Sunday with a large-scale advertising campaign in major haredi cities.

The Haredi Public party launched a large-scale advertising campaign at the entrances to and exits from major haredi cities on July 19, 2026.

Municipality is not 'modesty patrol': Bnei Brak councilman slams sidewalk gender segregation

About a week ago, the Bnei Brak municipality announced an unusual measure to separate men and women on sidewalks in the area surrounding the city’s event halls.

Street sign reading women on one side and men on the other, in the ultra orthodox Jewish town of Bnei Brak, July 15, 2026.

Jerusalem's Bikur Cholim hospital battle puts city's pluralism to the test

“If the hassidim take control of the eastern building, it will no longer be open to the public, and the gate will be locked,” warned Jerusalem's Deputy Mayor Yosef Havilio.

The Jerusalem Bikur Cholim hospital in Jerusalem closes due to lack of money. November 30, 2010.

Israel urges rabbis to help stop Iranian spy recruitment after dozens of indictments - report

Iranian agents use a simple recruitment method, relying on "fishing expeditions and luck," gradually escalating their demands in exchange for "easy" money.

Rabbi Yigal Cohen light candles for the 45 victims who were killed in a stampede, at the scene of the fatal disaster, at Mt Meron, last week. May 06, 2021.

Grapevine: Vexing logistics

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

Israeli "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot (3rd-R) and Jerusalem film festival director Roni Mahadav-Levin (2nd-R) attend the opening ceremony of the event in Jerusalem on June 17, 2025.

Haredi leaders, Yahya Sinwar: Different ideologies, the same refusal to face reality - opinion

In Keinon’s reading, Gaza’s devastation was not an unforeseen consequence. It was a price Sinwar was prepared to pay in the hope of igniting a regional war that would ultimately destroy Israel.

United Torah Judaism MKs Moshe Gafni and Yitzhak Goldknopf attend a Knesset vote on a bill to freeze arrests of haredi draft evaders, in Jerusalem, July 14, 2026

High Court names nine-justice panel to hear petitions on law halting arrest of haredi draft dodgers

The dispute comes after a succession of increasingly forceful High Court judgments on inequality in military service and the government’s failure to enforce the existing draft law.

President of the Supreme Court Isaac Amit arrives for a hearing on petitions alleging flaws in the legislative process of the Communications Bill at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, July 13, 2026.