Ultra-Orthodox Jews in the Public Sphere

In 2019, a research group on the topic of the Haredim and the public sphere operated at the Israel Democracy Institute. The group included Haredi men and women, non-Haredi religious individuals, and secular participants. Its goal was to develop new perspectives on the issue, enabling collective reflection on the appropriate arrangements in the discussed field. Most of the chapters in this collection stemmed from the group's discussions, presenting readers with a variety of fascinating aspects of the said issue.

The question of the place of Haredim in Israeli society became a central issue in the protest movement that arose in 2023 against Netanyahu's government. It intensified following the October 7, 2023, attack and the subsequent war, which led an increasing number of Israelis to believe that a change in the state's approach to the Haredim is necessary. I hope that the book before you will help in contemplating the nature of this change.

Thanks to Prof. Yedidia Stern—who initiated the formation of the group, guided its meetings, and led the book through a long process until he passed the responsibility for completing the work to me. Thanks also to the authors for their contributions to the discussion and their patient and fruitful collaboration during the editing process of their articles.

Special thanks to the Israel Democracy Institute's publishing team for their dedicated and meticulous work.