69 million page views

Questions for Dr. Pipes about the effects of Orthodox and Islamic growth in Israel

Reader comment on item: More about the Orthodox Future of Judaism

Submitted by Pez Dispenser (Israel), Aug 7, 2007 at 16:27

To sum up some interesting stats:

-1 out of 3 Jewish students will be Ultra-Orthodox by 2012
-1 out of 4 kindergartners is Arab (According to Yedioth Aharonoth/ Ma'ariv)
-By 2020, the Israeli Ultra-Orthodox population will make up 17% of the population.
-Muslim Arabs make up at least 16% of Israel's population today, with expected growth
-Neither group must serve in the military, the Ultra-Orthodox and Arabs have high unemployment rates and many are on welfare, and neither are well known for their zionist ethos.

My questions for Dr. Pipes are the following:

1. How long will Israel be able to handle such a situation where most of the security and economic burdens fall upon the shrinking majority?

2. Do you expect an exodus of secular-minded young Israelis to the west as Israel becomes a more religious country (i.e. the growth of Ultra-Orthodox Judaism among Jews and Islamic Fundamentalism among Arab Israelis)?

3. Do you expect to see zionism faltering after 2020 if these trends prove correct? A citizenry of over 30% of "non or anti-zionists" in the world's only Jewish zionist state creates a strange paradox.

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Daniel Pipes replies:

1. This strikes me as Israel's forthcoming crisis. It could prompt the Haredim to reassess its attitudes toward Zionism.

2. An exodus of seculars could well take place.

3. As I write in a forthcoming column: "I watch these several trends with a foreboding about Israel's future, even if I can console myself by recalling few of these problems were evident in 1989. Perhaps in 2025, Zionism's prospects will again brighten."

Submit a comment on this item

<< Previous Comment      Next Comment >>

Reader comments (33) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1Why Chabad is a winner [126 words]DaveJun 19, 2022 11:38282612
Judaic Observations of Being Sons of Abraham, Issac and Jacob - Observance Vs Lip Service [45 words]M ToveyJan 3, 2022 13:47277964
Does Judaic Orthodoxy Have a Revived Say in Israeli Politics? - Does Netanyahu's Likud Lead There? [371 words]M ToveyJun 21, 2022 14:06277964
On the unreliability of future projections [116 words]AnonAug 23, 2016 18:56231661
It's probably easier for Haredim to leave the path in Israel than in America [91 words]Anon.Aug 23, 2016 17:46231657
Good ideas [35 words]Michael SSep 1, 2016 00:24231657
Change in Jewish Demographics [19 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Geo AirdayAug 15, 2016 09:48231399
Haredi Rising because everyone else is falling. [141 words]LynnAug 15, 2016 07:51231396
It means going back to the ghetto. [86 words]Malcolm SmithAug 14, 2016 18:01231388
There are no ghettoes in the future of the Jews [494 words]Michael SAug 15, 2016 18:12231388
On the other hand... [32 words]daveAug 14, 2016 17:28231387
Why Orthodox Jewry is Exploding? [408 words]David EidensohnApr 21, 2016 12:13229091
Conservative Judaism losing its "best and brightest" [41 words]Mr. CohenMar 31, 2011 12:55183772
Conservative Judaism down 14% from 2001 to 2011 [77 words]Mr. CohenMar 31, 2011 12:53183771
1Orthodox achilles heel [195 words]ShlomoJun 12, 2009 06:33157214
Agree Shlomo [269 words]GeniJul 4, 2009 15:54157214
A reply to Dr. Pipes about the effects of Orthodox growth in Israel [67 words]Pez DispenserJun 10, 2009 17:44157152
What was Rabbi Lamm thinking? [151 words]Confee DenshallJun 5, 2009 15:41156851
The inevitable.... [158 words]FroikeMay 31, 2009 12:41156467
Still "a great nation" [161 words]Rebecca MouldsMay 28, 2009 10:22156303
1Behold, your King has come to you [103 words]UgriJun 3, 2009 02:27156303
The Future of Religion [123 words]Mark FelberJul 20, 2008 13:08135428
Some questions to Dr. Pipes [126 words]Debanjan BanerjeeJun 6, 2009 00:59135428
1The chickens come home to roost [366 words]john w mcginleyMay 5, 2008 18:16127812
Questions for Dr. Pipes about the effects of Orthodox and Islamic growth in Israel [184 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Pez DispenserAug 7, 2007 16:27105648
Update on the Ultra-Orthodox in Israel [38 words]PezDispenserDec 31, 2013 09:41105648
Cyclical Observations of Israeli Attitudes Torwards Obtaining Fruition of the Zionist Model. [403 words]M ToveyJan 11, 2022 00:30105648
Judeo- Christian values :The West's bulwark against radical Islam [309 words]Ben van de PolderAug 3, 2007 14:56105425
Carpe Diem! [315 words]John W. McGinleyMay 9, 2006 15:5345138
the questionable future [445 words]john w. mcginleyMay 9, 2006 11:0345104
Attitude of Jews towards Muslims [123 words]Debanjan BanerjeeJun 6, 2009 01:2845104
Orthodoxy in America is a pretty flexible term [203 words]Kenneth S. BesigMay 9, 2006 10:0945101
Being a Jew is not trivial. [139 words]MosheJun 7, 2006 16:2945101

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)