Haredim

How the World Zionist Congress Got the ultra-Orthodox to Comply

Elections for the World Zionist Congress show that the ultra-Orthodox can, and will, fall in line. Here’s how Israel can learn to do the same.
How the World Zionist Congress Got the ultra-Orthodox to Comply

New Subjects in the Field

Opinion Articles

IDF needs to act on recruiting haredim

Only a conscription law that includes minimal exemptions and with teeth will enable the continued defense and prosperity of the state.
Opinion Articles
מדד החברה הישראלית

JPPI Israeli Society Index, December 2024 – Special Survey of Ultra-Orthodox Society

In the midst of the military draft crisis and the war: 93% of the ultra-Orthodox oppose the conscription of young Haredi men as expected of young people across all other Jewish Israeli population groups.
מדד החברה הישראלית

We have failed to integrate the Haredim, and this will have a heavy price for Israel

Opinion Articles

How are Ultra-Orthodox Jews Protesting IDF Service if They’re Too Busy Studying Torah?

While demanding that the government function better, shouldn’t the government also reallocate some money funding ultra-Orthodox draft-dodgers to better protect our soldiers?
Opinion Articles
Opinion Articles

Don’t arrest haredi draft resisters

Israel cannot survive unless haredim serve in the IDF, but there are less draconian measures that can be taken.
Opinion Articles
Opinion Articles

Why the Israeli High Court ruling on Charedi draft will bring change – slowly

The strictly Orthodox politicians will naturally shout and protest the court decision, but their ultimate objective will be to pass a law in the Knesset that regulates the draft and sets a gradual increase that will meet the requirement set by the court.
Opinion Articles
Opinion Articles

Drafting Haredim – Coercion Is Not the Answer

What do we do when an ultra-Orthodox public devout about its faith faces off against another public – one that’s devout about the security of the state?
Opinion Articles
Opinion Articles

Drafting Haredim Is Now an Existential Issue

Before October 7, we thought the IDF could be a ‘small and smart army,’ but reality has cruelly slapped us in the face.
Opinion Articles
Opinion Articles

Rest of Israel’s population cannot be ultra-Orthodox’s flak jackets regarding IDF service

Until now, the discussion on recruiting the ultra-Orthodox centered on the question of “equal burden sharing.” This is an even more significant value today.
Opinion Articles

Researchers Team

Rivka Ravitz

Rivka Ravitz

Senior Fellow

Bio

Rivka Ravitz studied business administration and computer science and received her MBA in Information Systems. She is currently working on a doctorate in public policy at the University of Haifa. Her research at JPPI addresses the empowerment of Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) women in the labor market. Ravitz served as Chief of Staff to the 10th President of the State of Israel, Mr. Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin. She is a member of Israel’s Haredi community and lectures on various topics.

Focus Areas and Research

Articles by Rivka Ravitz

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Dr. Haim Zicherman

Dr. Haim Zicherman

Bio

Dr. Haim Zicherman, a senior lecturer at the Ono Academic College (OAC), is an expert in constitutional and property law and also researches the ultra-Orthodox society. His book Black Blue-White (Yedioth Books, 2014) takes a broad-minded approach to understanding the ultra-Orthodox society in Israel. Until last year, Zicherman managed the ultra-Orthodox campuses of the OAC, where thousands of Haredi students – male and female – study. In recent years, Zicherman has coordinated the development and management of the "Israeli Identity" course available to all undergraduate students in Israel.

Focus Areas and Research

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Dr. Shuki Friedman

Dr. Shuki Friedman

Director General

Bio

Dr. Shuki Friedman is the Vice President of the Jewish People Policy Institute. He is a member of the Faculty of Law at the Peres Academic Center and formerly served as secretary of the Locker Committee for Examining the Defense Budget. He was also chairman of the government committee on the sanctions against Iran, and headed the international and foreign law department for the legal division of the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office. Areas of expertise The relationship of religion and state; processes of religionization; secular-religious-ultra-Orthodox relations; ultra-Orthodox employment; the defense budget; Islamic law; international law; the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement.

Focus Areas and Research

Articles by Dr. Shuki Friedman

Israel’s not a dictatorship, but it’s headed toward becoming one

Even against beasts, the IDF must uphold its character

The double standard of Gaza’s migration ban

The lawless road to anarchy

IDF needs to act on recruiting haredim

A new Middle East requires striking Iran’s nuclear program

Another step towards a Halachic state

Biden’s Sanctions Will Damage the Economy of West Bank Settlements

Biden Admin Can Destroy Islamic Republic’s Nuclear Program, Secure its Legacy

The government’s decisions only worsen the divide in Israel

Protests are justified. Blocking roads is not

Don’t arrest haredi draft resisters

ICC prosecutor’s filing may affect Israel’s character as liberal state

Drafting Haredim Is Now an Existential Issue

Resolve and Optimism between Yom HaShoah and Israel’s National Holidays

A People that Dwells Alone? We Will Not Survive

Rest of Israel’s population cannot be ultra-Orthodox’s flak jackets regarding IDF service

Biden’s sanctions set ominous precedent for the settlement enterprise

Moderate Israelis Need Moderate Leaders – Not Messiahs

The dangerous fantasy of independence from the US

Genocide and the Hague

Acknowledge the Religious Zionist Community’s Sacrifices in the War

Protest politics endangers the hostages

The Haredi Needle Isn’t Moving

Thank you, American Jewish community

A war for the Jews’ right to live

October 7 was awful, but this is not a second Holocaust

Faith restored…in Israelis

The American Jewish heart beats in time with Israel’s

The War – An Opportunity for a Turnaround in Relations Between Haredi and Non-Haredi Israelis

If the Declaration of Independence Falls, Israeli Unity Will Fall Too

Israeli settlers, ultra-Orthodox will pay for trampling over Israel

An unreasonable law

Freedom of speech at risk for haredi critics

Do not give up on Judaism: It’s what makes Zionism profound

The IDF – a model of morality in combat

Haredi leaders must take responsibility

New proposed draft exemption framework for haredim endangers Israel 

US Jews issue penalty card to the Israeli government

Judicial revolution endangers settlement enterprise

The unhealthy law against chametz in hospitals

The Religion and Law Wars endanger us

New bricks in the ultra-Orthodox ghetto wall

Israel – Two Perspectives and the Zionism of the 21st Century

A constitutional coup will backfire

Will the return of the ultra-Orthodox parties to the government curb the integration of the ultra-Orthodox in workforce?

Pin a Medal on Goldknopf

In a contentious election season, Israelis should look to our shared covenant

High Court Snuffs Out Hope for Tech-Savvy Haredim

The Blessing of Unity

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Prof. Yedidia Stern

Prof. Yedidia Stern

President

Bio

Professor Stern is President of the Jewish People Policy Institute and a full professor in the Faculty of Law at Bar-Ilan University. He is an alumnus of the Kerem B'Yavneh hesder yeshiva (1973-1978); holds a law degree (summa cum laude) from Bar-Ilan University (1982), and a doctorate in corporate law from Harvard University (1986). Stern has served as dean of Bar-Ilan University's Faculty of Law (1994-1998), and was a Senior Fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute (1989-2000). For a decade he served as the IDI's Vice President for Research. His areas of expertise are corporate law (merger and acquisitions, corporate finance and corporate governance), and public law (constitutional law, religion and state, human rights, law and halacha or Jewish law). He has lectured and been a visiting scholar at universities abroad (including Harvard, Columbia, Brandeis, and Princeton), and was Distinguished University Professor at Monash University in Australia (2009-2011). Stern has served as advisor to the Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee; has participated in numerous committees and public entities, among them the Commission of Inquiry on the Treatment of Residents of Gush Katif (2009); the National Committee for Civic Studies (2009-2011, committee chair); the Takana Forum for the prevention of sexual harassment in the religious community (founding member); the Government Committee for Equality in the Burden of Service (2012); the Committee for Regulating Governance in Higher Education (2014). He has served on the boards of multiple companies, including (currently) that of Bank Leumi. Stern has been awarded the Zeltner Prize for Excellence in Legal Research (2009), and the Gorny Prize for Outstanding Activity in Public Law (2012). Professor Stern has written and edited over twenty books; has published over fifty research articles in five languages; is the coeditor (with Professor Sagi) of the journal Democratic Culture (19 volumes to date); regularly publishes essays and articles in the Israeli and international press, and is interviewed by the Israeli and international media on issues of law and society, religion and state, Judaism and democracy, Jewish identity and Israeli culture. Born in England (1955), married to Dr. Karen Friedman-Stern, father of eight.

Focus Areas and Research

Articles by Prof. Yedidia Stern

Flashing Red Lights in Boston

A sober look at the 5 wedge issues setting Israel ablaze

Dividing Israel: How politics of trust threatens inquiry into October 7

Splitting the Attorney General role would be a win-win all around

Turning the Shin Bet into a political battleground would be a detriment to all of Israel

We should all compromise to protect Israel’s judiciary from political strife

To stop the Israeli exodus, we need a constitution

The promise and pitfalls of the latest judicial reform outline

The wrong priorities: The absurdity of today’s Israel is on full display

Netanyahu’s trial – To mediation

Israelis can only fortify the national home by reconciliating among ourselves

Israel’s Resilience: Uniting in Celebration on Simchat Torah

Yariv Levin and his judicial reform have failed. Here’s why

Israel is in desperate need of a hostage deal and strategy

A Hostage Deal – How Will We Decide?

Europe and the Jews

Drafting Haredim – Coercion Is Not the Answer

We need a broad national emergency government now

A Decision is Required

Encouraging Haredi Participation in the IDF

Do we deserve our IDF soldiers?

Israel cannot afford to stop the war in Gaza

Israel requires a thin constitution

The Gaza War Should Set a New Tone for Israeli Unity Going Forward

Israel’s Achilles’ Heel

Harvard is Risking Moral Bankruptcy and Opposes Human Rights

What is the price of Israeli sovereignty?

The Genesis War

Israel – from adolescence to adulthood

Restoring the covenant of fate

Israel is in danger from a radicalized Center

How to Avoid a War over the Law of Return

To prevent another Tisha B’Av, we must learn something from the past

Can equality be enshrined in an Israeli constitution now?

Can Israel’s political strife be solved by a ‘thin’ constitution?

Israeli conservatism has collapsed

Do not alienate those who disagree with you politically

Dialogue should prevent Israel’s slide into civil war

Neither side can win on judicial reform

The time for dialogue is now!

No to Levin’s revolution, yes to changes in the legal system

Israel’s judiciary shows its limited power

Israel’s Knesset must leave the Law of Return alone – opinion

A Public Yom Kippur

Rosh Hashanah or January 1st?

Herzl and the First Zionist Congress: Then and now

How Much Should Israel Value Jewish Interests Over its Own?

On Freedom

The Haredim: What Was Is Not What Will Be

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Dr. Shlomo Fischer

Dr. Shlomo Fischer

Senior Fellow

Bio

Dr. Shlomo Fischer teaches sociology in the School of Education at Hebrew University and at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.He is also currently a research fellow at the Van Leer Institute. His research interests include the nexus of religion, politics and class in Israel, contemporary religion and the sociology of the Jewish people. He has published extensively on radical religious Zionism and the West Bank settlers as well as on the Shas movement. Fischer has worked in the field of education for the past 25 years. In the past 10 years he has worked in the field of religion, democracy and tolerance. He has edited (together with Adam Seligman) The Burden of Tolerance: Religious Traditions and the Challenge of Pluralism (Hebrew; HaKibbutz Hameuchad and the Van Leer Institute, 2007) which addresses these issues. From 1996-2007 he was the founder and Executive Director of Yesodot – Center for Torah and Democracy which works to advance education for democracy in the State-Religious school sector in Israel and was also one of the founders and is on the Board of the International Summer School for Religion and Public Life which is based in Boston, Mass. He is a graduate of the Mandel School for Educational Leadership in Jerusalem.

Focus Areas and Research

Articles by Dr. Shlomo Fischer

What Does the Cancellation of the Torch Lighting Ceremony Really Mean?

Who was Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook?

Hamas out, Arab criminal gangs in?

A New Era for Evangelicals and Israel, a Bridge to Progressives?

A New Era for Evangelicals and Israel, a Bridge to Progressives?

American Evangelicals, Jews, and Israel

Religious Zionists against the Land of Israel

Axing the Oslo Accords Killed the Narrative, Not Just the Process

Managing the Growing Challenges to Jewish Cohesion

October 7 was a feature, not a bug

The Hostage Dilemma

Musk, Soros and Antisemitism “Under Erasure”

No peace, no shtreimel

The Lag BaOmer Bonfire and Cultural Depth

Israeli Politics is Undergoing Tectonic Change

Opinion: Engage Moderate Religious Zionists on Israeli Judicial Reform

Israel’s Haredi education system needs major reform

The State of Israel, the Diaspora, and the Nation-State Law

2021 Jewish World Dialogue – Executive Summary

Political Extremism and the Jews

One, Two, or Three Jewish Identities among Jewish Americans?

Antisemitism and its Impact on Jewish Identity

The Growth of the Haredi Communities in the Diaspora

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