“Maimonides Fund, along with others, began engaging with the Haredi community about 10 years ago. Our focus was primarily economic: Israel would not be able to sustain a rapidly growing Haredi population if large numbers of men did not enter the workforce. In an economy like Israel’s, work requires proficiency in math, science and English — subjects that many Haredi boys stop studying after elementary school. Our efforts, therefore, centered on introducing those core subjects into the school day. We found that many, though not all, Haredi parents welcomed this approach. We worked with the Haredi community, not against it, strengthening the efforts of those who wanted change — who wanted a brighter future for their children while maintaining a commitment to Torah and a Haredi way of life. But after the war began, it became clear that education alone was not enough. Israel needs Haredi men to serve. And that realization is what brought us to the IDF base that morning.”
