Ultra-Orthodox in Israel Program
One of the biggest challenges facing Israel is how to integrate its rapidly growing ultra-Orthodox population into the economy, military and society. The Ultra-Orthodox in Israel Program seeks to address this difficult, multi-dimensional challenge by providing decision-makers, opinion shapers, philanthropists and other change agents with practicable, research-based policy proposals and smart integration strategies.
Established in 2014 under the leadership of Dr. Gilad Malach, the program has positioned itself as a leading source of expertise on Haredi society and all aspects of the integration challenge. The program benefits greatly from its ability to draw on expertise from across IDI’s five centers of research and action, including economists, local government specialists, political scientists, and experts on education, the military, religion and constitutional law. The program is especially known for its annual Statistical Report of Haredi Society, which monitors trends in demographics, education, employment, enlistment and other dimensions of Haredi life in Israel.
View the most recent Statistical Report on the Ultra-Orthodox in Israel>>

Together with IDI’s Military and Society Program, the Ultra-Orthodox in Israel Program is a leading source of knowledge, expertise and data on the issue of Haredi military service. Acknowledging the diversity of belief systems that characterize Israeli society alongside the imperative of preserving the IDF as a people’s army, the Program develops tailored, research-based policies that allow all Israelis to fulfill their obligation to serve while preserving their identity.

In collaboration with the Center for Governance and the Economy, the Ultra-Orthodox in Israel Program formulates data-driven policy proposals for integrating the Haredim into the Israeli workforce and sustaining Israel’s economic success story for decades to come. Among other initiatives, the program has worked to promote vocational training, educational reform, and fundamental changes to the regime of state subsidies.

In collaboration with the Religion and State Program, the Ultra-Orthodox in Israel Program conducts research on practical measures to ease the tension between religion and state and preserve Israel’s unique character as a Jewish and democratic state against the backdrop of rising extremism and polarization.