U.S. Ambassador: Integration of Ultra-Orthodox American Interest

Ambassor Dan Shapiro: It is important to help the ultra-Orthodox population succeed economically. A strong Israel will help the United States, and vice-versa

21/09/2011 15:53

Tags: Haredim · Workforce · United States · Economic Impact

American Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro. Credit: U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv, Flickr

While meeting with student at the ultra-Orthodox campus of the Lander Institute, Shapiro remarked “The ultra-Orthodox population has grown; nearly 25% of first graders are ultra-Orthodox. It’s clear that this population will be all the more important in the future and it behooves us to help them prepare for socio-economic success. If Israel is stronger, that will help America and vice versa.”

Shapiro added that educational opportunities are the key to efforts to boost the ultra-Orthodox in labor market integration. “We are constantly seeking ways to achieve this goal,” he said. Kikar HaShabbat, an ultra-Orthodox newspaper, reports that according to Ambassador Shapiro, attempts to strengthen the integration of the ultra-Orthodox sector are often a challenge that costs the business sector a lot of money; but with proper dialogue it is possible to obtain results that will meet everybody's needs, and attract the most qualified people into the workforce.

It’s clear that this population will be all the more important in the future and it behooves us to help them prepare for socio-economic success. If Israel is stronger, that will help America and vice versa.

Shapiro’s words echo those spoken by the CEO of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ten months ago, Angel Gurria. The website “B’Hadrei Haredim” reported that in a meeting with President Shimon Peres, Gurria remarked that the three key challenged facing the Israeli economy are the problems of poverty, continuing deterioration in level of education, and the integration of the ultra-Orthodox and Arabs into the labor market. Gurria said that if in the coming year there will be no significant change regarding the integration of the ultra-Orthodox, these issues will dramatically impact Israel’s economic growth, causing development to be halted.

To see coverage of the Ambassador’s visit in Yeshiva World News, click here

To see the full coverage in Hebrew from Kikar HaShabbat, click here

To see the full article in “B’hadrei Haredim” in Hebrew, click here