Ultra-Orthodox

Can Bennett become Israel’s Peter Magyar in the fight for democracy? - opinion

Can Naftali Bennett break Netanyahu’s bloc and lead Israel, or is the hope of a Magyar-style political reset in Israel still an illusion?

Naftali Bennett speaks during a conference at the Reichman University in Herzliya, on January 22, 2026.
Anti-IDF haredi activists Jerusalem Faction activists block the road under Jerusalem's Chords Bridge, April 29, 2026.

WATCH: Police forcefully disperse anti-draft haredi Jerusalem Faction protest at Chords Bridge

Rabbi Nahum Israel Ober.

Brooklyn hasidic Jew found dead in remote area of Colombia, ZAKA working to repatriate body

A haredi (ultra-Orthodox) anti-draft protester holds a banner reading "Even those who do not learn in Yeshiva need to stay Jewish. It's forbidden to commit spiritual suicide in the IDF's crematoriums," during an anti-draft protest at the IDF's Jerusalem recruitment center, April 12, 2026.

Israel High Court demands government enforce draft law, revoke benefits from evaders


Israel’s 'supreme' democracy: Who really decides the nation’s values - opinion

From Barak to today’s High Court, a quiet revolution has ignited a fierce debate over democracy in Israel.

Former high Court president Aharon Barak is seen at a conference of the Israeli Association of Public Law (IAPL) in Haifa, earleir this month. Arguments over judicial overreach and activism in Israel have been ongoing for years, the writer notes.

Ex-haredim experience isolation and anxiety similar to immigrants, study finds

The findings reveal that exiting strict, high-demand religious groups is not only a change in belief but a full-scale cultural transition, comparable to moving from one country to another.

 An ultra orthodox jewish man carrying his rifle outside a wedding of the Ger (Hasidic dynasty) in Jerusalem on March 13, 2024.

Ultra-Orthodox child forgotten on bus and left alone at West Bank checkpoint, police probe parents

The child's parents, a haredi couple residing in Modi'in Ilit, were located on Monday morning and subsequently taken into questioning by police officers.

A three-year-old haredi child found on his own at a bus terminal at the Kalandiya West Bank crossing, December 15, 2025

Haredi population grows rapidly while male employment and army service stall, IDI report finds

According to IDI, the ultra Orthodox community is growing fast, but gaps in employment, income, and military service persist, particularly among haredi men.

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man is seen during protests in Jerusalem as a banner reads 'All [Israeli] people are IDF,' October 30, 2025

Israel faces tough choices over haredi draft exemptions, legal expert warns - interview

Legal expert Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz warns that Israel’s draft bill for the Haredi community may entrench societal divisions and worsen long-term challenges for the economy and military.

Protests against haredi draft in Jerusalem, October 30, 2025.

New data maps Israel’s freedom divide: Liberal cities surge, conservative ones slip

The index measures municipal performance across 11 areas tied directly to daily life, including education oversight, gender-segregated events, religious budgets, and transparency.

Orthodox jews protest against Tel Aviv municipality Shabbat bus service, outside the home of Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai in Tel Aviv on December 7, 2019.

Rep. Lawler letter asking Netanyahu to exempt dual citizens from draft dodging arrests resurfaces

Lawler’s letter, now circulating again, asked Israel to safeguard the mobility of US-Israel dual citizens impacted by attorney-general directives linked to haredi draft evasion.

US Congressman Mike Lawler (R-NY) arrives prior to a closed briefing on Iran for members of the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 27, 2025; illustrative.

Haredi teenager suffers head injury in hit-and-run at Bnei Brak protest, arrests made

Footage of the incident shared by public broadcaster KAN News appeared to show the vehicle as it passed through the crowd, having knocked several protesters over.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews protests attempts to establish a draft bill in the Knesset, in Bnei Brak, December 8, 2025.

Religious Zionist Party crosses threshold with four seats as coalition bloc climbs to 53 - poll

The poll shows the coalition bloc rising to 53 seats, up four from the previous survey, driven by Religious Zionism’s gains. The opposition bloc gained 57 seats.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich seen after a press conference at the Finance Ministry in Jerusalem on December 4, 2025.

From Talmud to temptation: How erotica found a home in Orthodox Israel

Romance and erotica in literature, once niche, is growing in popularity among religious readers.

Romance and erotica novels are gaining popularity among religious women in Israel, with some rabbis quietly endorsing the genre for 'peace in the home.'