Sharing the burden – Why Israel needs Chareidim to survive.

As is well known, the State of Israel describes itself as a both a “Jewish” and “Democratic” state. In order for both of those things to be true at the same time, it is necessary to have a Jewish majority.

The demographic breakdown of Israel’s population sectors and their respective birthrates (which can easily be found online) clearly indicates that the Chareidim bear the vast majority of the burden of maintaining that Jewish majority, with the RZ coming in a distant second. The most militantly secular Jewish Israelis, not surprisingly, do not have enough children to replenish their own population, aside from being the most likely demographic to emigrate or intermarry. The Arab birthrate is lower than what it used to be, but still much higher than the secular Jewish rate, and for obvious cultural reasons both of those rates are unlikely to change dramatically. Worldwide, Chareidim have a 4% ANNUAL growth rate…

All of this means that, like it or not, without the Chareidim the future of Israel as a Jewish state is far from assured. Seeing as the Chareidi birthrate is directly connected to their ideology, leads one to question the wisdom of trying to get Chareidim to “integrate into Israeli society”, which is a dog whistle for “becoming less Chareidi, or not Chareidi altogether”.

Unless one subscribes to a “Post-Zionist” ideology, which many (far Left) anti-Chareidi agitators do, and has no need for a “Jewish” state, just a “democratic state of all of its citizens”. For those who do want a Jewish state, this is the biggest long term existential challenge to Israel.

The vast majority of Chilonim, given the choice, would rather go to the IDF for three years and then live their lifestyle however they choose, than commit themselves to a Chareidi lifestyle (even if only on this one issue) even if it would free them from IDF service. So, like it or not, the Chareidim are bearing a burden, directly relevant to the survival of Israel as a Jewish state, that most Israelis wouldn’t trade their own burden for. Without a Jewish majority in Israel, there won’t be anything left for the IDF to fight for.

So why is this issue not part of the equation of “sharing the burden”?