CNN has a series called "Believer" that explores various religions throughout the world. I've always been interested by what people believe, why people believe what they do and how that shapes their culture so I've watched the majority of the episodes. The most recent one provoked some more political thought than usual.They looked at the growing rift in Israel between "secular" Jews and the ultra-orthodox minority (Haredim) that is growing and pushing more and more into the secular state.
With a population approaching 20% of the total Israeli Jewish population, the influence of the Haredim is growing. I'll be honest, this is not something I had known much about previously but it paints an interesting picture for the state moving forward. For example, the Haredim refuse to serve in the Israeli military and most often the men in the family do not work which causes many of them to be on some sort of government assistance. These sort of internal governmental concerns will be compounded because on top of that, they want to rule the State under strict Jewish law (Halakha). As explored in the show, some areas of the country are already policing themselves on these terms and it's not exactly pretty from a western, secular POV.
Article that accompanies the episode.
This got me thinking, what is the future for an Israel (50-100 years from now) that is slowly turning in this direction? Increasingly adverse to the modern world and seemingly less willing to budge on Jewish law. Should the trend continue, it doesn't bode well for the state or relations in the region.
With a population approaching 20% of the total Israeli Jewish population, the influence of the Haredim is growing. I'll be honest, this is not something I had known much about previously but it paints an interesting picture for the state moving forward. For example, the Haredim refuse to serve in the Israeli military and most often the men in the family do not work which causes many of them to be on some sort of government assistance. These sort of internal governmental concerns will be compounded because on top of that, they want to rule the State under strict Jewish law (Halakha). As explored in the show, some areas of the country are already policing themselves on these terms and it's not exactly pretty from a western, secular POV.
Article that accompanies the episode.
This got me thinking, what is the future for an Israel (50-100 years from now) that is slowly turning in this direction? Increasingly adverse to the modern world and seemingly less willing to budge on Jewish law. Should the trend continue, it doesn't bode well for the state or relations in the region.
