In a striking shift, Israel's ultra-Orthodox community is embracing national service at unprecedented rates, with new data revealing a 65% increase in participation over the past year. This surge comes against the backdrop of ongoing debates about equitable burden-sharing in Israeli society, particularly regarding military service.
According to figures obtained by Maariv, 811 ultra-Orthodox individuals joined national-civil service frameworks between July 2023 and June 2024, up from 492 the previous year. The trend has accelerated since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas War in October, with monthly recruitment numbers consistently outpacing those of the previous year.
Notably, the security service track has seen a 108% increase, with 279 ultra-Orthodox youth joining institutions such as the police, Shin Bet, and even the Mossad, compared to 134 the previous year. Sources suggest that the war has intensified the desire among young ultra-Orthodox individuals to contribute to the state, with this track offering a more culturally acceptable alternative to military service.
Currently, about 1,500 ultra-Orthodox individuals are serving in various national-civil service tracks, approaching parity with the number serving in the military. Minister Orit Strock, responsible for the Civil Service Commission, views this as an opportunity for further expansion, stating, "The national civil service is an excellent platform for the quality contribution of ultra-Orthodox young people to the state and its security, without in any way harming their faith and their way of life."
* Maariv and JPost contributed to this article.