Survey: More Charedim Studying Torah Or In Academia, Less Enlisting In IDF,

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The Israeli Democracy Institute reports that between the years 2013-2023, the number of yeshiva students and Torah scholars increased by 83% BH, while the number of Haredim enlisting in the IDF decreased by 36%.

During this period, the number of yeshiva students and Torah scholars, which stood at 92,489, rose to 169,366, while the number of army conscripts, which was 1,972, dropped to 1,266. The Israeli Democracy Institute bases its findings on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics, government ministries, and National Insurance Institute.

The charedi population in Israel stands at approximately 1,390,000 people, or 13.9% of the total Israeli population. The percentage of young people under the age of 19 in the charedi population is 57%, compared to 31% in the general Jewish population. By 2030, the charedi population is expected to account for 16% of the total population, and the number of charedim under the age of 20 is expected to reach one million, constituting 25% of this age group.

Higher Education:
In terms of academic education, the rate of growth has slowed. Approximately 17,400 charedi students, who make up 5% of the total student body, were enrolled in higher education in the 2023/24 academic year. This year saw an increase of only about 700 students, representing a growth of just 4%, compared to an average annual growth rate of 9% in the previous three years.

Technical Training:
Approximately 8,650 charedi students were enrolled in professional technical training tracks in the 2023/24 academic year. The researchers, Dr. Gilad Malach and Dr. Lee Kohner, noted that charedim tend to study technical training more than non-charedi individuals, who prefer academic studies. Moreover, charedi women make up 39% of the students in technical training programs.

Employment:
Regarding employment rates among charedi men, data for the first nine months of 2024 show that employment stood at 54%, a slight decrease from 55.5% in the previous year.

Poverty Rates:
The poverty rate among charedi families was 34%, compared to 14% in the general Jewish population in 2022. The percentage of charedi children living below the poverty line, after accounting for National Insurance allowanc, stood at 47% that year, significantly higher than the 28% rate in the general population.

Mental Health and Habits:
In addition, 85% of charedim report that they rarely or never experience mood problems, compared to 73% of the non-charedi Jewish population.

Eyewear:
Haredim are more likely to wear glasses compared to the general population: 69% of Haredim wear glasses, compared to 55% of non-charedi Jews. This gap is particularly noticeable among men: 74% of charedi men wear glasses, compared to only 48% of non-Haredi Jewish men. Among women, the gap is minimal, with 63% of charedi women wearing glasses compared to 61% of non-charedi Jewish women.

Dietary Habits:
63% of charedim report that they do not eat meat more than once a week, compared to 56% in the non-charedi Jewish population. 55% of charedim report eating fish at least twice a week, compared to 33% in the general Jewish population.

Consumption of Sugary Drinks:
34% of charedim report drinking more than two cups of sugary drinks a day, a significant decrease from 55% six years ago, possibly due to high costs. However, the consumption of sugary drinks is still higher than in the general Jewish population, where 27% drink more than two cups a day.

Health Status:
76% of charedim report that their health is very good, compared to 51% of non-charedi Jews who feel the same. 9% of charedim smoke, compared to 21% of non-charedi Jews.

Physical Activity and Weight:
Approximately 49% of charedim report engaging in physical activity, which is lower than the 61% of non-charedi Jewish individuals.39% of charedim have a healthy weight, compared to 46% of non-charedi Jews.

Sleep:
About half of the charedi population gets at least seven hours of sleep per night, in line with health recommendations, similar to the non-charedi Jewish population.