Israel – Forty-five percent of haredim have no interaction at all with secular Jews, according to a study released by the Gesher NGO.
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And about one in five secular Jews has little contact with the ultra-Orthodox, respondents to the survey released on Wednesday said.
The first comprehensive index of social attitudes toward Israeli unity was commissioned as part of the Jerusalem Unity Prize in memory of the three teenagers abducted and murdered by Hamas terrorists last summer, Eyal Yifrah, Gil-Ad Shaer and Naftali Fraenkel. The prize is a joint initiative by the families of the three teens, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and Gesher.
Some 78% of respondents to the survey supported educational efforts to promote contact between religious and secular Jews.
Fifty-three percent of haredim reported having few, if any, conversations with Jews from segments of society outside their own. The group has minimal Internet access and had to speak with interviewers by telephone.
Eight-one percent of the 511 people surveyed said they respected Jews from all sectors of society, but only 13% felt such open-mindedness was likely to resonate in the nation within the next five years.
Gesher chairman Daniel Goldman believes the educational system does not do enough to encourage discussion among different kinds of Jews.
“Across the board there is recognition that we to recognize difference,” he said. “But let’s be clear that when we talk about unity, we are not talking about uniformity.”
Uri Yifrah, father of Eyal, is optimistic about the attention being placed on the issue, but added that they need to be addressed even without triggers such as the death of his son and his friends.
“The challenge, and one which we can and must confront, is to implement those solutions at all times and not just when we’re being faced with tragedy or attacks,” he told the Five Towns Jewish Times of Long Island, New York.
The survey has a margin of ±4.4%.
Their loss
Why is this news I don’t speak with people that I have nothing to do with. Surprise that can be tomorrow’s headline yellow zebra. lives I’m Brooklyn and dose not talk to his next door neighbor.
Half of Charadim don’t talk to other Charadim. You expect them to talk to seculers?
our sages praise the person who would greet another Jew even they are not observant, and this is part of good character (מידות טובות), and even further, how about asking about their life and to give some advice, etc.
Isn’t this an integral part of our Torah ? Even more, the sages praise the idea of greeting a non jew as well, (BTW it is a Kidush Hashem as well)
The Title should read “80% of secular Jews don’t talk to chareidim”.
According to Torah hashkafa, the frum people should keep away from the secular unless there is a potential to exert influence to them, but chas veshalom not the opposite. With the fast growth of Torah people, we will become a majority with time, and our influence will only grow, bringing even more secular into our world. Who doesn’t know at least 5 people that have become baalei teshuva? With time, the truth will win over sheker lives.
Whether it is the bias of the study or the bias of the reporting on it in JP, I don’t know, but I suspect it’s both. The objective headline would have stated “90 of Secular Jews NEVER Talk to Chareidim.”
Of course, if it was an in-depth study, it would also find the reason: vast majority of those 90% have some residual guilt about living lives so devoid of anything Jewish and they deal with their guilt either by avoiding men who live the life of Torah and mitzvos or by developing resentment of such men.
Gut shabbos.
I never understood why this is an issue. Why does one person not speak to another? The idea that Jews feel like they cannot approach other Jews is disgraceful. People make up all kinds of phony reasons why it is so. But, when seculars need the chevrah kadisha, or it comes time for bar mitzvah for their children, they come talk to us. When we need money (like Sheldon Adelson), all of phony “pious” reasons for not associating with seculars is thrown out the window. When are we going to realize that ahavas yisroel is more important than any sect, any community, any neighborhood, any style of dress, any hashkofo, any minhag, any level of observance. One outstretched hand and a smile can wipe out a million evil words. Believe it.