POLITICS AND SOCIETY IN ISRAEL SPRING 2020 Session 11 Maya Hadar IRE215 § Religion and State in Israel § Jewish Communities of Israel § The Political-Religious Connection § Religious Jews and the State of Israel § The Case of Brother Daniel § The Ultra Orthodox Sector § Religious and State: Contemporary Challenges § Social Cohesion and Disparities § The Israeli Defense Forces § Historical Background § Characteristics § Compulsory Service + Exceptions § Equipment § Israel as an Army Nation On The Agenda For Today2 Jewish Communities of Israel Ultra Orthodox Lithuanian Hassidic Sephardic (Shas) Religious Modern Orthodox Religious Zionist Radical Religious Zionist Traditional Mainstream traditional (orthodox tradition) “Masorti” and Reform streams (reform tradition) Secular Non- religious Anti- religious The commonly perceived religious/political dichotomy: “Dati” (religious) “Hiloni” (secular) Right wing politics Left wing politics Politics and Religion Religious Jews and the State of Israel § Before Israel was established, Zionists were determined to reach some sort of agreement with Agudas Israel (a political movement of ultra Orthodox Jews) § How will life in future Israel look like? § The “Status quo” agreement (summer of 1947), establishing a framework of coexistence with Agudas Israel § The Jewish Agency wanted political unity in Israel, but not a religious state § Agudas Israel insisted on a Jewish entity that would maintain a basic halachic (Jewish religious law) framework for Jewish continuity § 1949: “Unified religious front” as part of Israel’s first government (included Haredim/ultra-Orthodox) § From 1948 until today, no single party has ever won enough seats in an Israeli election (61) in order to govern without coalition partners § The smaller Orthodox and ultra- Orthodox parties are often very important players in coalition building and party politics Religious Jews and the State of Israel Religious Jews and the State of Israel § Important leverage and political power disproportionate to their size § Many coalition agreements in the past have stipulated “no changes to the status quo on religion/ state issues” in order to ensure stable coalitions § Difficult to change the status quo governing religious practice in Israel § 1950’s: First conflicts: Aguda leaves government over women soldiers § 1976: Religious parties caused downfall of government over desecration of Sabbath (a day of religious observance and abstinence from work, kept by Jews from Friday evening to Saturday evening) Religious Jews and the State of Israel § Three F15 fighter Jets arrived in Israel (bought by the IDF) on a Friday afternoon § Left the US, stopped for gas on the way and arrived 20min late § 3,000 Israelis attended a welcome ceremony, including the Prime Minister, Ministers, Chief of staff, etc. § Religious and Ultra Orthodox members of parliament protested over desecration of Shabbat § In the weekly Cabinet’s meeting, Prime Minister Rabin explained that the Jets were supposed to arrive before Shabbat and when they got delayed, he tried to cancel their arrival, but it was too late as they were already on their way Religious Jews and the State of Israel § Two days later, the parliament discussed a vote of no confidence due to desecration of Shabbat (48 in favor, 55 against, 9 members of religious parties obtained- were part of the coalition) § Anticipating a second (now successful) vote of no confidence, Rabin resigned the following week and called for early general elections § 2000: ‘Tal Law’ – an attempt to regulate and minimize Ultra Orthodox exemption from mandatory IDF service § Please watch the following video: Religious Jews and the State of Israel https://www.youtube.com/watch ?time_continue=1&v=me4Fqdrm VBs&feature=emb_logo Ultra Orthodox in Israel § Referred to as ‘Haredi’ or ’Ultra Orthodox’, broad array of theologically, politically, and socially conservative Orthodox Jews § Common Denominator => Absolute reverence for Torah (Written and Oral Jewish Law) as the central and determining factor in all aspects of life § Leadership and status are linked to one’s Torah scholarship and learnedness (not money/academic degrees) 11 Ultra Orthodox in Israel § In order to prevent outside influence (they are considered contamination of values and practices), haredim strive to limit their contact with the outside world, avoiding, as much as possible, both non-haredi Jews and non-Jews § Interaction with outsiders is generally confined to basic economic contact + unavoidable public interactions (e.g., going to the post office) § Certain groups of haredim (e.g. Chabad Lubavitch), do contact non-haredi Jews in order to encourage them to adopt more stringent religious observance § With the most explosive birth-rate of any Jewish group, haredi Judaism may very well come to dominate the population of the Jewish world in years to come 12 Ultra Orthodox in Israel Family and Lifestyle => § Haredi Jews usually live in communities populated mostly or exclusively by Haredim 13 § Each community has its own synagogues, yeshivot, community-oriented organizations, etc. § The major centers of Haredi life in Israel are the city of Bnei Brak and in Jerusalem’s Mea She’arim district (in the US- in and around New York City) Ultra Orthodox in Israel Family and Lifestyle => § Most adult men devote themselves to full-time Torah study, and their wives assume the role of breadwinner § As single-earner households with large numbers of children, haredi communities are generally characterized by extreme poverty, requiring subsidies from charities and governments in order to subsist § When faced with major life decisions (where to live, whom to marry, whether to study full-time or work), haredi Jews often consult their rabbis § Rooted in the principle of ’Torah knowledge’: one should seek Torah-based guidance from a recognized rabbinic authority on all matters of life 14 Ultra Orthodox in Israel Haredi Politics => § Many haredim are fundamentally opposed to a secular, modern, premessianic Jewish state § A minority (e.g. Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidim), support Zionism 15 § Haredi political group’s goal is to align Israel’s policies and laws with halacha (Jewish law) and insuring that haredi schools and institutions continue to receive government funding 16 Religion and State § No separation of ‘church’ and state § Precedence of Judaism over liberalism § Israel as the only ‘Jewish state’ in the world § No civil marriage for Jews, no mixed marriage 17 Religion and State Contemporary Challenges => § The Jewish nature of the state vs. contemporary secular majority which objects the dominance of religious orthodoxy (e.g., marriage, Sabbath observing etc.) § Israel => The only Jewish state in the world § Secularization of the population vs. sustaining a Jewish character § What would the potential repercussions of Israel becoming ‘less Jewish’ be (Jewish life in Israel, world Jewry) ? 18 Religion and State Contemporary Challenges => § When trying to answer this questions, we should differentiate between symbolic aspects and ‘modus operandi’ (practical) aspects of the state§ Symbols: May/should remain Jewish + accommodations to make non-Jewish communities feel represented => Increase inclusion § Practical issues: more complicatedn Civil marriage?, Public transportation on sabbath (Saturdays)? same sex marriage (opposed by Orthodox Judaism)? Social Cohesion => § Israeli society is marked by a lack of social cohesion and significant disparities Israeli Society § Better social + labour- market integration of Israeli Arabs and Ultra Orthodoxcrucial Haredim = Ultra Orthodox Social Disparities => § Israeli society is marked by significant disparities between different communities Israeli Society § Different outcomes in the labour markets: earnings § Haredi + Israeli-Arabs’ average skills and remuneration levels are low, their families large and social transfers limited Haredim = Ultra Orthodox § Strong disparities in formal education between Israeli-Arabs, Ultra Orthodox and the rest of the Israeli population § Demographic Trends Israeli Society § 44% of people under 14 are Arab/Haredi, the Haredi share is growing rapidly Haredim = Ultra Orthodox § To conclusion the topic of religion and religious communities in Israel, please watch this interesting video Israel's Religiously Divided Society § https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCH0uecc4dY § Founded in 1948, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), armed forces of Israel is comprised of army, navy, air force § Ranks among the most battle-tested armed forces in the world, as it participated in six major wars § The IDF’s security objectives are to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Israel + deter enemies and terrorism that threaten daily life § Main tasks: Ensuring overall security in the West Bank in coordination with the PA, lead the war against terrorism (in Israel + across its borders), maintaining a deterrent capability to prevent outbreak of hostilities The Israeli Defense Forces § The IDF’s strategic doctrine is defensive, tactics are offensive § In preparing for defense, the IDF deploys a small standing army (conscripts and career personnel) with early warning capability + regular air force, navy § Due to IDF’s reliance on reserve units to provide much of its infantry strength, it could be categorized as a citizen militia supplemented by small corps of career officers and active-duty conscripts § Always been outnumbered by its enemies, the IDF maintains a qualitative advantage by deploying advanced weapons systems, many of which are developed and manufactured in Israel for its specific needs The Israeli Defense Forces § Men and women of all ranks serve side by side § More women are now serving in combat units, as pilots § Most of IDF forces are reservists, called up regularly for training and service, in time of war are quickly mobilized into their units § The Chief of General Staff (head of the military) is appointed by the government for a three-year term (usually extended in one year) The Israeli Defense Forces § Military service is compulsory for Jews (man and women), Circassian and Druze men § Bedouin men often volunteer for the draft § Exemptions from service are granted to married women, women with children, and men who are undertaking religious studies (a point of contention between secular and religious Israelis) § The IDF tried to accommodate the ultra Orthodox who wants to serve by setting up special units called Nahal Haredi § Period of active-duty: 32 months for men, 24 months for women (minimum) § Compulsory reserve duty (to age 50: women in specific positions, age 55: men) The Israeli Defense Forces § For Orthodox women + Arab Israelis who want to contribute but are reluctant to fully integrate into the secular corps/excepted from service, the IDF established Sherut Leumi (national service) § Participants volunteer full-time for one/two years, mostly in schools, hospitals, nursing homes etc. § Sherut Leumi is open to Israeli Jews who weren’t drafted (e.g. due to medical reasons) or wish to do a year of national service before the mandatory military service The Israeli Defense Forces § The IDF is responsive for the cultural and social needs of its soldiers, providing recreational activities + personal support services § Active in nation-building enterprises, the IDF also provides remedial + supplementary education to civilian populations and contributes to the absorption of newcomers § Recruits with incomplete educational background are given opportunities to upgrade their level of education in service § Career officers are encouraged to study at the IDF's expense The Israeli Defense Forces IDF: Equipment => § An element in Israel's strategy of overcoming the quantitative gap between itself and its potential enemies is the constant striving to achieve and keep a qualitative edge in terms of military equipment § Fragile issue, depends on the international situation + financial possibilities, both favored the Arab side in the past (e.g., The EgyptianCzech arms deal: 1955) § The IDF often development its own hardware as foreign source of supply failed (e.g., The Merkava, Israel's battle tank) The Israeli Defense Forces IDF: Equipment => § Aware of the critical importance of the IDF to Israel's survival, the relative share of the defense budget in Israel is the highest in the Western world, considering the sizable contribution in loans + grants from the US § Usually 1/3 of the total budget § Whilst the IDF is constantly on the lookout for the best equipment it can procure/develop, there is no guarantee that the material advantage will always be on the Israeli side § Other factors (human factor, ‘small smart army’) are important The Israeli Defense Forces A Jewish Military => § Israel’s first years: IDF lionized the embodiment of Zionist values § The first Jewish military in 2,000 years, it was charged with protecting a nation still recovering from the genocide of European Jewry (The Holocaust) § The stunning success of the small motivated army surrounded by bigger enemies gave it the image of a mythic David against Goliath § The army performed/continues to perform important social role as a primary melting pot and equalizer for a country of immigrants § By imposing compulsory army service Israel as an Army Nation § Enlistment is a milestone for the Israeli teenager § Families tend to throw parties and videotape farewells with children at induction centres § Army service offers a broad range of jobs (e.g., infantry, intelligence, military band). Membership in an elite commando unit carries the most prestige § Competition to get into these units is often fierce, especially to become pilots of Israel as an Army Nation § Army service offers a broad range of jobs (e.g., infantry, intelligence, military band) § Membership in an elite commando unit carries the most prestige Israel as an Army Nation § Competition to get into these units is often fierce, especially to become pilots of combat jets in the Air Force § Soldiers who work in an office are often referred to derisively as “jobniks” § Outstanding soldiers are invited to become officers (requires extra service) § Professional soldiers (made the army their career) receive many benefits (e.g., generous pension plans) + network of acquaintances formed during the service that often opens doors for prominent jobs after they leave the army § The IDF made an invaluable contribution to Israel’s economy § Many innovations developed by the army are used by decommissioned soldiers for civilian applications, a phenomenon which became the basis for Israel’s growing high-tech industry § Name recognition + security credentials that goes along with become high ranking generals make military men attractive assets to political parties § Many Israeli prime ministers came to politics directly from the army Israel as an Army Nation Next Session...35 § The Israeli Palestinian Conflict § Peace in the Middle East? 36 Thank You For Your Attention! Questions? Please email me!