According to the results of a survey conducted in 2008 by the Central Bureau of Statistics, 79% of chareidim are satisfied with their living conditions despite most being short on space.
The study reveals that 84% of people 20-years-old and up are satisfied with their apartment. This is the case with Jews (86%) more than Arabs (82%). This also appears to be the case with higher income families (93% among those earning over NIS 14,000 monthly) as opposed to lower income families (81% among those earning up to NIS 4,000 monthly bruto (gross income).
Space is a big consideration. In homes in which there are more bedrooms than people, satisfaction was measured at 90% as opposed to homes with 2 or more people per bedroom, registering much less, 64%.
On the other hand, if one analyzes the numbers by sector, the picture is a significantly different one, with 79% of the chareidi community reporting satisfaction despite crowded living conditions. In the dati and secular communities, that number is significantly lower, 55%.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
Baruch Hashem!
This is very interesting, although this attitude doesn’t seem to fit with what Rav Chaim Kanievsky was referring to below:
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/51750/Maran+R%27+Chaim+Kanievsky:+%27It%27s+Reached+Epidemic+Proportions+-+A+Fast+Should+be+Declared%27.html
Its great for YWN to share good news about the frum community once in a while
I wonder if they asked the kids (doubtful), the wife (also doubtful, because it would mean SHE needs to go earn more money to afford a move of any sort), or the husband (most likely, as he shares the least of the $ burden and is out of the house most of the day, so why should he care about space constraints?
Besides, at the most, he shares his room with 2 people (spouse and a child).
Let him try living like his numerous kids 5-6-7 and more in a room or worse yet, the kitchen or dining room, and see how fast he would see the need to move to a bigger apt.