Righting a Wrong

Charedim studying for professional degrees at Kemach  - JTA (5/5/14)

One of the most important achievements of the last Keneset in Israel is that it provided mechanisms for the Charedi world to enter the workforce and thereby better provide for their families and contribute to the overall economy. 

Haredi men and women who do complete a form of National Service or university studies are stunned to find that employers shun them, Walla! News reports Tuesday, as the workforce is increasingly entering the catch-22 of requiring a broad range of experiences for entry-level jobs.

According to a March 2014 survey, commissioned by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), there is significant discrimination against haredi workers. 30% of respondents expressed reluctance to work with a haredi man and over a third of employers (37%) expressed a reluctance to employ haredi men. 

"When I get an interview, they always look me over from head to toe, like I'm a strange bird," Shmuel, a 33 year-old from Ashdod, stated to the news agency. Shmuel served in the IDF and studied electrical engineering, despite some resistance from family and friends.

"Even my previous employer, who made me responsible for production workers, made sure I would feel uncomfortable and signaled me to leave," he lamented. "The feeling is hard: you want to fit in, but no one wants you." Shmuel feels helpless... he does not understand the complaints against him and the haredi community for not going to work - because he himself can barely eke out a living despite his choice.  "I feel like I've wasted my time…"