Page 14 / De iure September 2018
Photography: Yoram Reshef
Trailblazing the Way
Supporting Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Students
One of the core values at TAU Law is to foster an inclusive environment in which students from minority backgrounds can thrive and achieve their potential. We recognize that each student is different, and every community faces different challenges. Conditions that recognize and respect these differences provide the optimal atmosphere for students to prosper. In taking a practical approach to leveraging the challenges of minority students into an experience that encourages success, the Faculty pioneered a new program called Trailblazers. The program is designed to ensure ultra- Orthodox Jewish students have access to support and are provided with stable, sufficient and accountable resources to face their unique challenges and fulfil their academic goals.
Currently commencing its fourth year, the Trailblazers program numbers 50 ultra- Orthodox‘ Haredi’ students studying at Tel Aviv University, 14 of which are students at TAU Law. Adv. Galia Givoly, Program
Director and PhD student at the Meitar Center for Advanced Legal Studies, says that the late Adv. Zvi Meitar inspired the idea for the program.“ He recognized the need for a program that responds to the needs of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. Haredi Israelis educated in seminaries and yeshivot face greater challenges than their secular peers. The program assists them to negotiate these challenges, and to make use of the many resources to help them feel connected and supported by their peers and faculty.”
Can you describe some of these difficulties?
“ To begin with, ultra-Orthodox Israelis are usually not taught many of the core subjects required to successfully matriculate and pass the university entrance exams, specifically English and mathematics. Another challenge is helping Haredi students acclimatize to a coeducational environment, since many of them were not educated in a mixed classroom before.
Furthermore, the Haredi community is not readily disposed to the idea of women‘ leaving the community’ to pursue higher education.”
Speaking of challenges, what about the shifting religious demography in Israel and the economic factors that drive the need for a program like this.
“ These factors are key. The religious demography in Israel is undergoing a tremendous shift and we are seeing a major increase in the Haredi community. Ultra- Orthodox Israelis are forecast to become a third of the population by 2059, up from the current 8 %. While female employment levels are in line with Israeli society many Haredi men do not participate in the workforce. So if the community climbs to 24 % in 2059, as forecasts suggest, and the men continue to study in yeshivas and not earn money we will have a colossal problem on our hands. If we don’ t do something to help the community build professional careers that were previously