From my own conversations and interactions, it is now clear to me that haredim are not making excuses or evading responsibility. They possess strong feelings of kinship and belonging, and they desire to contribute to Israeli society in a real way. And thanks to several new non-profit and governmental initiatives, numerous opportunities for them to do so are on the horizon.
Though our group conversation began with bad feelings and troubling thoughts of war, it concluded on a very encouraging and optimistic note. While our relationships with our neighbors may always be tenuous at best, we will flourish as a nation within our own borders if we continue to open the dialogue wider and present opportunities for true partnership.
There is, in fact, hope for us as a unified nation – assuming we are open to it.