Mandatory military service has been a cornerstone of Israel since its founding, but the recruitment of Haredi or “ultra-orthodox” students was a longstanding point of contention. The massacre of October 7 and the prolonged war that followed exacerbated the urgent need for combat soldiers. Public pressure, constitutional rulings, and societal demands intensified, making Haredi recruitment a central topic of national discourse.
While political solutions remain elusive, ISTS stepped in to forge a path toward change. Israel Sci-Tech Schools is spearheading this social transformation through a respectful, non-coercive model that blends rigorous Torah study with high-level engineering and technology training. By providing specialized pathways into technical military roles, the network not only empowers Haredi men with high-demand career skills but also strategically “frees up” other recruits for essential frontline combat units – addressing a vital national security need while preserving the unique religious identity of the participants. With demand currently outstripping supply, donors have a unique chance to scale proven initiatives, such as the first-of-its-kind Technological Hesder Yeshiva, a new Haredi-only campus, and over a decade long of programs in the field. By providing the stipends and infrastructure necessary, we turn a historic social challenge into a sustainable, unified future for all of Israel.
