Haredi Israelis Get the Most Benefits and Are the Deepest in Debt

A new study shows that Haredi Israelis are behind the financial eight ball more than other sector even though their monthly benefits form the government are 60 percent more than others

The Taub Center for Social Policy’s 2014 State of the Nation report, blamed high housing costs as the main reason households cannot make ends meet.

Haredi families, which on average have far more children than secular families, spent nearly $00 (3209 shekels) more than their income, compared with approximately $214 (864 shekels) for non-observant families.

The gap among Muslims was nearly $500 (1919 shekels).

Monthly benefits, other than earned income, for Haredim was slightly more than $800 (3256) shekels a month.

The report cited housing costs as the biggest problem for Israeli families to end the month without an overdraft.

Even families with both spouses working have a hard time being able to afford a $250,000 mortgage to buy a home, and the amount could be double that much in the Tel Aviv or Jerusalem.

However, a large number of husbands in Haredi families learn in yeshiva and rely on a stipend and their wives' income.

The Bank of Israel, both under the guidance of Stanley Fischer and now his successor Karnit Flug have urged the government to encourage Haredim to enter the work force and be more self-reliant.