Friday Focus with Sam Sokol: Why Haredim see themselves as warriors

Welcome to The Times of Israel’s newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what’s behind the news that spins the globe. In this episode, political correspondent Sam Sokol steps in for Berman.

This week, we learned that only 1,212, or five percent, of the 24,000 ultra-Orthodox men who have received initial draft notices since July 2024 have begun the enlistment process. Some 80,000 Haredi men are eligible to serve.

We also learned that despite constituting 14 percent of the working-age population, the ultra-Orthodox community generated only 4% of Israeli tax revenues in 2023, costing the government billions and adding thousands of shekels to the average non-Haredi worker’s annual tax burden, according to a new study by the Israel Democracy Institute.

This conversation can also be viewed here:

Sokol has been rigorously covering the issue of universal conscription, also known as the Haredi or ultra-Orthodox draft, both in the halls of the Knesset and on the streets of Israel.

We talk more about the diverse Haredi society and what motivates it. We discuss the context behind the exemptions as well as the history of Haredim joining the coalition.

And finally, Sokol updates us on the slow legislative process to codify Haredi enlistment — which may just topple the coalition.

Friday Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and the video was edited by Thomas Girsch.

Check out last week’s Friday Focus: