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Cyclists ride down the deserted Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism, in 2004.
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Hiloni (Hebrew: חִלּוֹנִי), plural hilonim (Hebrew: חִלּוֹנִים; "secular"), is a social category in Israel, designating the least religious segment among the Jewish public. The other three subgroups on the scale of Jewish-Israeli religiosity are the masortim, "traditional"; datiim, "religious"; and haredim, "ultra-religious" ("ultra-Orthodox"). In the 2018 Israel Central Bureau of Statistics' survey, 43.2% of Jews identified as hiloni.

Definitions

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In the Israeli parlance, hiloni is used to identify Jews who observe fewer traditional practices than the other, more religious, Jewish subgroups (apart from that, the term may also be used as a derogatory epithet by observant Jews, or to be associated with secularism).[1] Between 2002 and 2018, among Jewish adult respondents to ICBS polls, self-identified hilonim numbered between a maximum of 45% in 2005 and a minimum of 41.4% in 2009. In 2018, the figure was 43.2%.[2]

Though hiloni literally means "secular", many scholars argue it is problematic in translation. Professor Yoav Peled preferred to render it as "nonobservant."[3] Kenneth D. Wald and Samuel Shye commented that:[4]

It is essential to recall that secularity in Israel is defined in reaction to the extremely stringent demands of Orthodox Judaism and does not necessarily entail a conscious rejection of Jewish religious identity or even necessarily connote indifference. Although their standard of observance is low by Orthodox standards, many of the ostensibly secular exhibit an array of religious acts that would mark them off as fairly religious in the American context. Though the term is misleading, "secular" is the common label to identify people who do not consistently practice the ritual behavior mandated by Orthodox Judaism.

The demarcation between the hiloni category and the nearest, the masorti or "traditional", is highly porous. Surveys demonstrated that it is not reliant on objective levels of belief or ritual observance, but mainly on socioethnic lines: Ashkenazi Israelis, either native or post-Soviet immigrants, tend to describe themselves as "secular" even when they observe or believe quite substantially, and Mizrahi and Sephardi Israelis usually regard themselves as "traditional" regardless of lifestyle and conviction. Among Mizrahim and Sephardim, those who aspire to emulate the European-descended also tend to adopt the label hiloni. Nevertheless, some MENA-descended Jews, such as those who emigrated from Iraq and Algeria, have labelled themselves as hiloni for other reasons, likely since they had been highly influenced by European colonial powers and certain aspects of enlightenment.[5] Many surveys offer to the masortim the sub-category of "not very religious/tending to hiloni". Between 2002 and 2018, those who identified as such in ICBS polls, ranged from a minimum of 21.4% to a maximum of 28.4% of the entire sample, or roughly two-thirds of all masortim.[2]

Israeli social scientists measure levels of religiosity/secularity among Jews in terms of practice, not faith, and use the category of "totally nonobservant" to identify the completely secular.[6] In the 2009 Guttman Center survey, the most comprehensive on the matter, 46% of all respondents reported they were hiloni. About 16% of the entire sample, virtually all of them hiloni, stated they were "totally nonobservant". Almost all the rest of the hiloni were "somewhat observant", and a negligible minority stated "observance to great extent".[7] As many ritual behaviours, like setting a Mezuzah, are part of Jewish-Israeli lifestyle and lack an overt religious connotation, the "totally nonobservant" often perform some. In the 1999 Guttman survey, only a third of them did not practice any of the ten common rituals studied.[6] At the other end, Yaacov Yadgar and Charles Liebman estimated in 2009 that about 25% of the hilonim are highly observant, on par with the more religious subgroups.[1]

In matters of faith, four surveys between 2009 and 2019 imply that on average, 60% of the hiloni respondents believe in God, 20% are convinced atheists, and 20% do not believe but "sometimes think God exists".[8] Pertaining to other supernatural notions, the Guttman surveys and other polls show that a considerable share hold various such: between 25% and 36%, believe that God revealed the Law and precepts at Sinai, that a higher power guides Jewish history, that the Jews are a chosen people and that there is a soul that survives death.[1] Only disbelief in the Messiah and the World to Come closely correlates with self-identification as hiloni.[9] Denominational identification, as known among American and other Western Jews, is mostly irrelevant in the Israeli context (hilonim have no equivalent category in the American Jewish community).[10] Yet, when asked in the 2015 Pew Research Center survey of Israeli society, 23% of the hiloni respondents identified as Orthodox, 5% as Reform and 2% as Conservative. 64% did not identify with any particular movement.[11]

While hilonim are often hostile to the state rabbinate, fear the growth of the haredi populace, and oppose further religious legislation in Israel, secularism in the common sense of the word is rather rare in the country. Orthodoxy plays a central role in defining national identity, and religious issues like conversion are regarded as crucial by the vast majority. When "separation of religion and state" is used in the Israeli context, it is mostly understood as a wish to abolish the many laws curtailing personal freedom, not actual separation.[12] This innate tension led to a state of affairs dubbed by Professor Stephen Sharot as "secularization without secularism": since the 1990s, the demand of both masorti and hiloni Israelis for consumer activity on the Sabbath (technically illegal), non-kosher food and the like, considerably liberalized the public sphere, but barely affected religious legislation and did not introduce principled secularism into the political arena.[13]

See also

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References

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Hiloni

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Hiloni (Hebrew: חִלּוֹנִי, plural hilonim), translating to "secular", refers to the subgroup of Israeli Jews who self-identify as the least religiously observant on the spectrum of Jewish identity in Israel, alongside haredi (ultra-Orthodox), dati (religious), and masorti (traditional) categories.
Hilonim comprise the largest segment, accounting for about 45% of Israel's Jewish population, and are concentrated in urban areas where they dominate secular professions, higher education, technological innovation, and military leadership roles.
Despite limited adherence to ritual observance in everyday life, empirical surveys indicate substantial participation in lifecycle events and national holidays—such as fasting on Yom Kippur or reading the Passover Haggadah—often framed as cultural rather than devout practices.
Defining characteristics include a prioritization of civic nationalism over religious authority, high rates of workforce participation, and universal conscription into the Israel Defense Forces, contrasting with exemptions for more observant groups.
Persistent controversies arise from hiloni advocacy for reduced religious influence in public policy, including demands for civil marriage options, Sabbath commerce, and intra-Jewish equality, which have fueled societal divides and judicial debates over the balance between democratic secularism and the state's Jewish character.

Definition and Terminology

Etymology and Meaning

The term ḥiloni (Hebrew: חִלּוֹנִי, plural ḥilonim; lit. "secular") originates in Modern Hebrew as a descriptor for individuals oriented toward worldly or non-religious life, contrasting with terms denoting religious commitment such as dati ("religious," referring to observance of Jewish law) or ḥaredi ("ultra-Orthodox," implying strict piety and separation from secular influences). This usage emerged in the context of early 20th-century Hebrew revival, adapting biblical and rabbinic roots associated with secularity or the profane (ḥol) as opposed to the sacred (kodesh), to categorize Jews prioritizing civil and national identity over ritual observance. In contemporary Israeli society, ḥiloni functions as a standard self-identification category in official statistics and research, distinguishing it from more religiously observant subgroups like masorti ("traditional"). The and international surveys employ this taxonomy to segment the Jewish population based on reported religiosity levels. For instance, the Pew Research Center's 2016 survey of Israeli adults classified nearly all Jewish respondents into ḥiloni, masorti, dati, or ḥaredi, with ḥiloni indicating the subgroup exhibiting the lowest adherence to halakhic (Jewish legal) practices while frequently preserving selective cultural customs such as holiday celebrations or lifecycle events. Approximately 49% of Israeli Jews self-identified as ḥiloni in the 2016 Pew study, representing the largest such category and underscoring its prevalence among those viewing Judaism primarily through a secular-national lens rather than theological observance. This designation reflects not outright rejection of Jewish heritage but a pragmatic detachment from mandatory religious authority, often aligning with Zionist emphases on statehood and modernity.

Distinctions from Other Jewish Subgroups

Hiloni Jews, self-identifying as secular, exhibit the lowest levels of religious observance among Israel's Jewish subgroups, with only 2% considering very important to their Jewish , compared to 85% of Dati (religious), 32% of Masorti (traditional), and 96% of Haredi (ultra-Orthodox). This gradient reflects broader patterns in daily practices: just 1% of Hiloni pray daily and 1% attend weekly, versus 76% and 85% for Haredi, 58% and 74% for Dati, and 21% and 32% for Masorti. In contrast, Masorti Jews maintain selective adherence to , such as keeping kosher at home (86%) and avoiding travel (41%), though observance varies widely and often aligns with cultural rather than strictly halakhic motivations. Dati and Haredi groups demonstrate near-universal compliance with core halakhic requirements, including 100% keeping kosher at home and abstaining from travel or handling money, underscoring their commitment to comprehensive observance. Hiloni adherence remains minimal, with 33% keeping kosher and only 5% avoiding travel. These distinctions manifest in perceptions of Jewish identity: 4% of Hiloni view being Jewish primarily as a religious matter, prioritizing ancestry and culture (83%), while Haredi (70%) and Dati (52%) emphasize religion, and Masorti fall in between (24%). Empirical markers like 3% of Hiloni observing all or most Jewish traditions, against over 98% for Dati and Haredi, highlight the subgroups' positions along a continuum of religiosity, from stringent halakhic fidelity in Haredi and Dati to cultural affinity without doctrinal rigor in Hiloni.
Observance MetricHaredi (%)Dati (%)Masorti (%)Hiloni (%)
Religion very important to Jewish identity9685322
Daily prayer7658211
Weekly synagogue attendance8574321
Keep kosher at home1001008633
No Shabbat travel100100415

Historical Development

Origins in Secular Zionism

The Hiloni identity emerged from the secular strands of that gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as Jewish intellectuals and activists in prioritized national and cultural over religious orthodoxy as the path to Jewish survival. This movement, initially driven by figures like , evolved into practical settlement efforts that viewed the experience—marked by religious insularity and economic marginalization—as a condition to overcome through productive labor and territorial reclamation in . , in particular, crystallized these ideals by fusing socialist principles with Jewish nationalism, rejecting rabbinic authority in favor of a vision where Jewish renewal stemmed from agricultural pioneering and communal self-reliance rather than ritual observance. Central to this secular foundation was the , initiated in the Second (1904–1914), where young immigrants established collective farms that deliberately supplanted religious structures with egalitarian labor and Hebrew-language education. By the 1930s, over 50 kibbutzim existed, embodying a causal shift toward viewing physical toil on the land as the antidote to historical Jewish alienation, while minimizing traditional practices like observance in favor of work schedules aligned with national development. This rejection extended to linguistic revival: pioneers actively promoted , first systematically advanced by in the , as a secular tool for unifying disparate Jewish groups and forging a non-religious national consciousness, supplanting and religious . David Ben-Gurion, as leader of the Labor Zionist Mapai party, exemplified this ethos in pre-state politics, steering the Yishuv toward institutions like the Histadrut labor federation that operated on secular, class-based lines. In the Yishuv's composition by the 1940s, secular and socialist orientations predominated, with roughly 80% of children attending general or Labor educational streams focused on civic and vocational training over religious instruction, compared to 20% in Mizrahi religious schools—laying the groundwork for a Jewish polity independent of clerical oversight. Ben-Gurion's 1948 Declaration of Independence reflected this priority, framing the state as a realization of Jewish historical rights and democratic equality without invoking divine covenant, though compromises like "Rock of Israel" allowed religious signatories to interpret it symbolically while preserving a secular intent.

Evolution in the State of Israel

Following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, Hiloni identity solidified among the Jewish population through the dominance of secular Zionist leaders in shaping foundational institutions. David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister and a committed secularist, prioritized state-building efforts that emphasized universal education, technological advancement, and military service over religious observance. The education system, made compulsory in 1949, was largely secular, with state schools promoting Hebrew language revival and Zionist history rather than rabbinic texts, reflecting the Hiloni ethos of national revival through modernization. Similarly, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), established in 1948, functioned as a secular melting pot, integrating diverse immigrants via mandatory service that prioritized civic loyalty and combat readiness over denominational divisions. This early hegemony was facilitated by the absence of a formal constitution enforcing , coupled with the 1947 agreement negotiated by Ben-Gurion with Orthodox leaders, which accommodated limited religious demands—such as public observance of and in state institutions—without granting the rabbinate veto power over civil law. From the through the , Labor Party governments, rooted in secular , maintained this framework, enacting policies like the 1953 State Education Law that centralized secular curricula while marginalizing full religious control. However, demographic pressures from higher fertility among religious began to surface by the late , subtly challenging the Hiloni-led cultural norms amid rapid in traditionalist communities. The 1977 Knesset election, in which under secured a , marked an initial erosion of unalloyed Hiloni dominance by incorporating Mizrahi traditionalists and forming coalitions with the , thereby amplifying religious voices in governance and policy. This shift ended three decades of uninterrupted Labor rule and introduced greater negotiation over issues like settlement expansion, which intertwined with religious-nationalist ideologies. Subsequent waves of immigration, particularly the influx of approximately one million from the former between 1989 and 2000, reinforced secular demographics; these newcomers, largely non-observant due to decades of Soviet , integrated into urban centers and bolstered Hiloni numbers through their emphasis on professional skills and cultural .

Demographics and Statistics

Current Population Data

As of 2023, Hiloni individuals constitute approximately 45% of Israel's Jewish population, positioning them as the largest self-identified subgroup among , though this share has declined from around 49% in 2016 due to differential demographic growth in more religious communities. With Israel's Jewish population totaling about 7.2 million that year, this equates to roughly 3.24 million Hiloni . Hiloni Jews are disproportionately concentrated in urban centers, particularly and the central district, where secular lifestyles align with higher population densities and modern infrastructure. They exhibit elevated socioeconomic indicators compared to other Jewish subgroups, including higher rates of postsecondary —45% hold college degrees versus 13% among Haredi—and correspondingly greater average household incomes tied to professional employment in tech, services, and academia. Recent data indicate overall stability in Hiloni identification, with 93% of those raised Hiloni retaining the label into adulthood, alongside a net inflow from Masorti (traditional) backgrounds where retention is only about 60%, offsetting some losses amid broader Jewish population expansion.

Fertility Rates and Projections

The (TFR) among Hiloni Jewish is approximately 2.0 children per woman, compared to 6.4 for Haredi women and around 3.0 for the overall Jewish population. This disparity arises from empirical patterns where lower aligns with later ages (typically in the late 20s for Hiloni women versus early 20s for religious subgroups) and greater emphasis on higher education and career advancement, which correlate with fewer births as women prioritize professional opportunities over larger families. Historical data from the Central Bureau of Statistics indicate that Hiloni TFR has remained relatively stable near 2.0 over recent decades, showing no significant upward trend despite national policies supporting family formation, while religious subgroups sustain higher rates driven by cultural norms favoring early and frequent childbearing. These stable low rates for Hiloni contribute to slower within the subgroup, with completed cohort fertility often falling below replacement level (2.1) when accounting for rates around 10-15% among secular women. Projections from the Central Bureau of Statistics, assuming continuation of current differentials, forecast that the Haredi will comprise up to 32% of Israel's total by 2065, with Haredi and Dati together reaching 40% of the , implying a proportional decline for Hiloni below 30% of due to the faster growth of religious groups. Such models highlight the causal role of sustained gaps, where Hiloni trends toward convergence with averages (around 1.5) could accelerate this shift absent interventions targeting secular family formation.

Cultural Practices and Identity

Religious Observance Levels

Hiloni Jews demonstrate notably low adherence to core halakhic practices compared to other Jewish subgroups in . According to a 2016 survey, only 33% of Hilonim report keeping kosher at home, in contrast to over 90% among Dati (religious) and Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) . Similarly, Shabbat observance among Hilonim is minimal, with the vast majority not avoiding activities prohibited under traditional , such as handling money, traveling by vehicle, or engaging in work; Pew data indicate Hilonim are far less likely than other groups to follow these restrictions, with virtually none observing them strictly. Holiday participation among Hilonim often involves selective, non-ritualistic engagement rather than full compliance. For instance, while a majority may attend seders or fast partially on for cultural or familial reasons, these acts rarely align with orthodox standards; Guttman Center analyses from the show that among secular , observance typically constitutes a "small part" of commandments (57%) or none at all for about 32%, reflecting casual rather than obligatory practice. Synagogue attendance is also infrequent, with fewer than 10% of Hilonim reporting weekly participation, prioritizing individual choice over communal ritual. This pattern underscores a preference for personal autonomy in religious matters, as evidenced by Guttman Center surveys indicating Hilonim view religious norms as optional rather than binding, often substituting halakhic requirements with secularized cultural expressions like communal barbecues on Yom Ha'atzmaut or family gatherings during holidays, detached from theological imperatives. Such data from established polling institutions like and the Israel Democracy Institute's Guttman Center highlight empirical non-observance as a defining trait, though with residual traditional influences varying by family background.

Cultural and National Identity

Hiloni Jews define their Jewish identity predominantly through ethnic ancestry, shared history, and , eschewing religious or theological elements as central to Jewishness. A 2016 Pew Research Center survey found that 55% of overall view being Jewish as mainly a matter of ancestry and/or culture, a perspective even more pronounced among Hiloni respondents who constitute the secular majority and explicitly prioritize non-religious markers of identity over halakhic observance or belief in . This conception aligns with the secular Zionist origins of modern , where Jewish emphasizes collective peoplehood and statehood rather than divine covenant. Cultural expressions reinforce this identity absent religious frameworks, with and literature serving as vital conduits for continuity. Engagement with literature—rooted in the revival of Hebrew as a spoken during the Zionist era—fosters a sense of shared narrative and values among Hiloni, drawing from cultural Zionism's emphasis on national revival through arts and education. Mandatory military service in the (IDF) further anchors , functioning as a secular ; Hiloni men enlist at rates near 80-90%, significantly higher than among ultra-Orthodox groups, promoting intergenerational bonds through shared defense obligations and volunteerism in conflicts. However, this secular approach carries empirical risks of identity dilution over time, as reliance on voluntary cultural practices lacks the enforceable of religious communities. While intermarriage rates among remain low at about 5% overall—far below diaspora figures of 42%—they are elevated among secular Hiloni compared to more observant subgroups, potentially eroding ethnic continuity through mixed unions that prioritize individual choice over communal boundaries. Religious groups' halakhic restrictions on provide causal safeguards against such assimilation, whereas Hiloni openness to , even if infrequent, heightens long-term vulnerabilities in maintaining distinct Jewish amid .

Political and Social Views

Alignment with Left-Leaning Politics

Hiloni Jews exhibit electoral preferences that disproportionately favor centrist and left-leaning parties promoting secular policies and opposition to expanded religious influence in governance. In surveys of political affiliations, Hilonim demonstrate higher support for parties such as and Labor (Avoda), which prioritize separation of and state, including efforts to integrate Haredi populations into the and while curtailing exemptions based on religious observance. This pattern reflects a broader ideological lean toward platforms critiquing Haredi privileges, as evidenced by voting concentrations in Hiloni-majority urban areas during elections emphasizing anti-clerical reforms. Policy preferences among Hilonim reinforce this alignment, with strong backing for measures enabling civil marriage and public transportation on Shabbat to accommodate non-observant lifestyles. A 2016 Pew Research Center survey found that the vast majority of Hilonim favor operating public transport on Shabbat, in stark contrast to religious subgroups' opposition. Similarly, recent polling indicates widespread Jewish public support—peaking among secular respondents—for recognizing civil, Conservative, and Reform marriages, with 60% overall endorsement in a 2025 survey, driven by Hiloni advocacy for personal choice over rabbinical monopoly. These views align with left-leaning emphases on individual rights, as Hilonim polls consistently show preferences for deregulating religious gatekeeping in family law and Sabbath observance. Empirically, this secular orientation correlates with left-leaning positions on , as a non-religious emphasis on fosters support for policies decoupling state functions from halakhic standards, per analyses of Israeli divides. Hilonim's , unencumbered by traditional communal obligations, thus manifests in electoral and attitudinal patterns favoring progressive reforms, though not uniformly across all policy domains.

Attitudes Toward Security and Minorities

Hiloni Jews exhibit strong support for Israel's security apparatus, evidenced by near-universal military service participation. According to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) data, enlistment rates among eligible Hiloni men exceed 80%, with women serving at rates around 70%, reflecting a cultural norm of contributing to national defense without religious exemptions. This contrasts sharply with Haredi communities, where enlistment remains minimal; in 2024, only 2,940 ultra-Orthodox men enlisted, falling short of the IDF's target of 4,800, amid widespread draft avoidance. Hiloni criticism of these exemptions intensified post-October 7, 2023, with polls indicating broad unity in defending against but frustration over unequal burden-sharing, as Hiloni reservists faced extended call-ups while Haredi participation lagged. On attitudes toward minorities, particularly Arab Israelis, Hiloni views are comparatively tolerant. A 2016 Pew Research Center survey found that 58% of Hiloni Jews opposed the expulsion or transfer of from , higher than the 21% opposition among Haredi respondents. Hiloni support for a has historically outpaced religious groups, with 61% expressing optimism for peaceful coexistence with a Palestinian state as of September 2023, though this dipped amid broader Israeli skepticism following the . Post-October 7 polls reflect a hawkish shift across Israeli society, including among Hiloni, with opposition to a Palestinian state rising to around 79% overall, yet Hiloni remain more open to diplomatic resolutions than their religious counterparts. This divergence underscores Hiloni prioritization of pragmatic security alongside minority integration over ideological exclusion.

Interactions and Conflicts

Tensions with Haredi and Dati Communities

One major flashpoint in relations between Hiloni and Haredi communities has been the exemption of ultra-Orthodox men from mandatory , which Hilonim have long criticized as imposing a disproportionate burden on secular who comprise the majority of enlistees. On June 25, 2024, Israel's unanimously ruled that the military must begin drafting Haredi seminary students, declaring the longstanding exemption policy—rooted in a arrangement but lacking current legal basis—invalid and requiring immediate action to enforce . This decision, which applied to approximately 66,000 eligible Haredi men at the time, intensified Hiloni advocacy for equity, as secular , including Hilonim, have historically shouldered over 80% of IDF service obligations while Haredi exemptions have grown with their population. Haredi leaders responded with mass protests and threats to destabilize the , viewing the ruling as an assault on religious study, further alienating Hiloni publics who perceive such resistance as shirking national defense responsibilities amid ongoing conflicts like the Gaza war. Disputes over public spaces have also fueled tensions, particularly Haredi efforts to impose gender segregation on buses serving mixed communities, which Hilonim overwhelmingly reject as infringing on secular norms. Although Israel's outlawed formal "mehadrin" (segregated) bus lines in 2011 following lawsuits by groups, informal enforcement by Haredi passengers and some drivers has persisted, leading to harassment incidents reported as recently as August 2023 in areas like , where women were pressured to sit at the back or stand. Surveys indicate 93% of Hilonim oppose any gender segregation on , even on routes primarily used by Haredim, reflecting broader clashes over shared civic spaces where Hiloni prioritizes individual freedoms over religious accommodations. Similar frictions arise with Dati communities in mixed neighborhoods, though less acutely, as Datiim generally support integration while Haredim push for stricter separations. Efforts to enforce Shabbat commerce bans represent another recurring conflict, with Hilonim resisting restrictions that limit economic activity in secular-majority areas like . In January 2018, the narrowly passed a law empowering local religious councils to close supermarkets and businesses on , prompting defiance in cities where Hilonim form the demographic core and view such measures as Haredi overreach into private enterprise. More recently, in April 2025, the opening of the BIG Glilot mall in on drew Haredi boycott threats and political pressure, yet the secular municipality vowed non-enforcement, highlighting Hiloni prioritization of open commerce over halakhic observance. These incidents underscore Hiloni perceptions of Haredi and Dati influence—bolstered by coalition politics—eroding pluralistic public life. Cultural clashes have escalated amid Haredi demographic expansion, projected to reach 16% of Israel's population by the late due to high rates averaging 6.6 children per woman, challenging Hiloni cultural dominance in urban centers. During 2023 protests against judicial reforms—supported by Haredi parties to preserve exemptions—Hiloni demonstrators expressed fears of "Haredization," citing the ultra-Orthodox community's growing political leverage and resistance to modernization as threats to Israel's secular character. Haredi counter-protests, including draft riots in 2024, have deepened mutual resentment, with Hilonim arguing that subsidized non-participation in workforce and military erodes national cohesion, while Haredim decry secular "assimilation" pressures. Tensions with Dati communities, though present over issues like settlement policies, are tempered by shared Zionist commitments, making Haredi-Hiloni divides more intractable.

Debates Over Military Service and Public Policy

Secular , who constitute the majority of military enlistees, have expressed significant resentment toward policies granting exemptions to Haredi men for full-time , a practice rooted in a 1948 arrangement but extended indefinitely through political accommodations. In 2024, Haredim comprised approximately 13.9% of Israel's population, yet enlistment rates remained negligible: only 1,212 out of 24,000 draft-eligible Haredi men began enlisting in the preceding year, with around 80,000 Haredi men aged 18-24 remaining unenlisted overall. This disparity places a disproportionate burden on secular and other non-Haredi , who face mandatory service of 2-3 years, exacerbating perceptions of inequity amid ongoing security threats. Surveys indicate broad opposition, with only 9% of supporting full exemptions in early 2025, reflecting heightened public ire during wartime. Compounding this, state funding sustains Haredi yeshivas despite low enlistment, fostering debates over fiscal inequities. The 2025 budget allocated NIS 1.27 billion ($350 million) specifically for yeshivas, alongside additional coalition funds exceeding NIS 1 billion inserted into the base budget for religious institutions. students receive monthly stipends, which were nearly doubled in prior budgets, enabling sustained study without workforce participation while secular taxpayers bear the costs. Critics argue this subsidizes avoidance of national duties, as Haredi poverty rates remain high partly due to limited —Haredi male stands at around 50%, far below the national average—yet public resources flow disproportionately to exempt communities. Education policy further highlights divides, as Haredi schools often forgo substantial core curricula in math, , and English, hindering graduates' integration into Israel's tech-driven . Enforcement of core requirements in Haredi boys' elementary schools has been lax over the past decade, with many institutions receiving full funding despite non-compliance, leading to skill gaps that perpetuate dependency on state support. systems, by contrast, emphasize these subjects, producing a workforce-ready population, but Haredi curricula prioritize , resulting in higher and lower academic attainment—Haredi men with degrees employ at 71%, yet overall higher education levels are declining. This structural mismatch fuels policy debates over funding conditions tied to standards and labor market preparation. Efforts to reform these policies faltered in 2025, underscoring fragility. Draft bills aimed at either enforcing enlistment or codifying exemptions repeatedly failed, prompting ultra-Orthodox parties like Shas and to withdraw ministers, boycott votes, and quit coalition posts—culminating in Shas's October 2025 exit over unpassed exemption legislation. These breakdowns destabilized governments reliant on Haredi support, as secular-led initiatives for equitable service quotas clashed with religious demands, leaving the Supreme Court's June 2024 ruling against blanket exemptions unenforced amid political paralysis.

Contributions and Criticisms

Achievements in Economy and Innovation

Israel's high-tech sector, often dubbed the engine of the "," is disproportionately driven by Hiloni individuals, who constitute the majority of workers in this field due to their emphasis on , mandatory , and urban concentration in innovation hubs like . The sector contributed 18.1% to 's GDP in and accounted for about 53% of total exports in recent years, with high-tech output reaching approximately $78 billion in exports during 2024. The demographic profile of high-tech employees is predominantly non-ultra-Orthodox Jewish men based in central , aligning with Hiloni characteristics of higher workforce participation and technical proficiency. A key factor in this dominance is the transfer of skills from compulsory (IDF) service, which Hiloni citizens undertake at rates far exceeding exempted ultra-Orthodox groups. Elite units like , focused on , have produced alumni who founded pioneering cybersecurity companies, including Software Technologies in 1993 and in 1999, contributing to Israel's global leadership in defensive technologies. Startups led by veterans have achieved average acquisition values exceeding $317 million, underscoring the unit's role in seeding over 1,000 ventures in cybersecurity and related fields. This military-to-civilian pipeline, honed through real-world problem-solving under pressure, enables rapid innovation and attracts substantial , with alumni increasingly influencing ecosystems as well. Hiloni-driven is empirically linked to superior and global integration, fostering higher in tech clusters. Regions like greater , with overwhelmingly secular demographics, host ecosystems generating unicorn startups at rates surpassing global peers, such as 4.8% of seed-funded ventures reaching billion-dollar valuations—higher than San Francisco's 3.6%. In contrast, lower labor force involvement in non-Hiloni religious sectors, such as ultra-Orthodox communities with drags estimated at 2% of GDP, highlights the causal role of Hiloni in sustaining Israel's GDP above $50,000, comparable to advanced economies. This integration of rigorous STEM education, entrepreneurial risk-taking, and international networks positions Hiloni contributions as pivotal to Israel's resilience and export-led expansion.

Critiques Regarding Cultural Erosion and Demographics

Religious critics, particularly from Orthodox communities, contend that Hiloni secularism erodes adherence to halakhic by prioritizing individual over traditional observance, fostering what they describe as spiritual emptiness and cultural dilution. This perspective attributes rising non-observance to secular influences, with surveys indicating that approximately 45% of self-identify as Hiloni, often engaging minimally with religious practices beyond selective cultural traditions like fasting. A 2015 WIN/Gallup International poll reported 65% of Israelis as not religious or convinced atheists, a figure underscoring the of diminished spiritual depth amid secular dominance. Demographically, Hiloni rates, averaging around 2.0 children per woman, lag behind those of religious groups—such as ultra-Orthodox rates exceeding 6—driving projections of a relative Hiloni decline. Internal religious switching has temporarily expanded the Hiloni cohort to 45% of Jewish , as many raised traditional or religious shift toward secular identification in adulthood, accelerating a perceived drift away from observant . Taub Center analyses forecast Haredim comprising 50% of Israel's Jewish by 2059, highlighting how low secular exacerbates this shift and risks diluting cohesive . Conservative observers argue these trends weaken societal resilience against external threats, as secular erosion of shared religious moorings may foster fragmented national and vulnerability. Some Hiloni voices internally acknowledge assimilation perils, noting generational surveys reveal concerns over youth detachment from core Zionist commitments amid cultural liberalization. This counters narratives normalizing secular , emphasizing causal links between low birth rates, identity dilution, and long-term demographic pressures on Jewish continuity.

References

  1. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2016/03/08/israels-religiously-divided-society/
  2. https://jppi.org.il/en/18215-2/
  3. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/latest-population-statistics-for-israel
  4. https://honeyfoundationforisrael.org/insights/what-does-israeli-jewish-society-look-like-a-brief-market-overview/
  5. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2016/03/08/identity/
  6. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/israel/jew-secular.htm
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  10. https://www.fpri.org/article/2015/01/origins-and-evolution-of-zionism/
  11. https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/herzls-troubled-dream-origins-zionism
  12. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2201473X.2019.1646849
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  15. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/israel-studies-an-anthology-the-yishuv
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  17. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/creation-israel
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  19. https://www.masaisrael.org/resource/the-religion-state-status-quo-from-ben-gurion-to-today/
  20. https://israeled.org/begin-and-likud-elected-to-head-israeli-government-in-landslide-victory/
  21. https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1121&context=ijgls
  22. https://en.idi.org.il/media/22766/annual-statistical-report-on-ultra-orthodox-haredi-society-in-israel-2023-executive-summary.pdf
  23. https://www.israelhayom.com/2019/08/18/tel-aviv-tops-socio-economic-index-jerusalem-slips-to-near-bottom/
  24. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2016/03/08/education-values-and-science/
  25. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/03/26/4-facts-about-religious-switching-within-judaism-in-israel/
  26. https://jerusaleminstitute.org.il/en/blog/fertility_rate/
  27. https://jppi.org.il/en/%25D7%2594%25D7%25A2%25D7%25A8%25D7%259B%25D7%2594-%25D7%25A9%25D7%25A0%25D7%25AA%25D7%2599%25D7%25AA-2024/s/5.4/
  28. https://www.taubcenter.org.il/en/research/israels-exceptional-fertility/
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  30. https://www.taubcenter.org.il/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Demography-ENG-2023-2.pdf
  31. https://www.cbs.gov.il/en/mediarelease/Pages/2017/Projections-of-Israel-Population-until-2065.aspx
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  33. https://www.taubcenter.org.il/en/research/trends-in-religiosity-among-the-jewish-population-in-israel/
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  40. https://www.haaretz.com/2013-06-09/ty-article/1-in-6-israeli-men-doesnt-finish-army-service/0000017f-df94-db5a-a57f-dffea3160000
  41. https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-idf-raises-reservist-call-up-cap-to-450000-weary-troops-decry-low-haredi-enlistment/
  42. https://www.jpr.org.uk/reports/intermarriage-jews-and-non-jews-global-situation-and-its-meaning
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  46. https://hiddush.org/subchannel-71-0-Public_Transportation_on_Shabbat.aspx
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  50. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-supreme-court-rules-religious-seminary-students-must-be-drafted-military-2024-06-25/
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