“We are together in this crisis – secular, religious and Haredim. Jews and Arabs. Either we all move forward together, or we will all be left behind.” said President Rivlin
By Johnny Kim
(SNN, Jerusalem) - President Reuven (Ruvi) Rivlin, Tuesday 28 July / 7 Av, received the Haredim in Hi-Tech report of the Israeli Advanced Technology Industries (IATA) and KamaTech, which summarizes the integration of the ultra-Orthodox population into the workforce and offers recommendations for the future. GPO announced.
The report was presented by President and CEO of IATI Karin Mayer-Rubenstein and Moshe Friedman, founder, partner and CEO of KamaTech. KamaTech was established as a start-up for integrating the ultra-Orthodox community in the field of hi-tech. Deputy minister of transport Uri Maklev, Sari Roth, a Haredi woman who holds senior positions in hi-tech companies, Naama Rutenberg, a graduate of the KamaTech program who currently works at Apple, participated in the event, and some 20 hi-tech leaders who employ Haredim joined by Zoom.
According to the findings of the report, as conveyed by KamaTech, there has been a 52% growth in the number of Haredi employees in hi-tech, and of 35% in the number of Haredi students and engineers studying hi-tech subjects since 2014. Over the last four years, there has been a significant jump of 90% in the number of Haredi women employed in hi-tech. The vast majority of Haredim working in hi-tech are under the age of 28. The number of Haredi engineers on the various programs offered by the Ministry of Education’s technological training institute has doubled in the last four years. Some 200 Haredi start ups have been established in Israel since 2015.
At the beginning of his remarks, the president spoke about the fight against the coronavirus pandemic which is hitting all spheres of employment, saying “the coronavirus that has been hitting us in the last few months teaches us, in the clearest way possible, that there are challenges that we can overcome only if we are together. We are together in this crisis – secular, religious and Haredim. Jews and Arabs. Either we all move forward together, or we will all be left behind. It is as true of the coronavirus as it is of the Israeli economy. The Israeli hi-tech economy is a light unto the nations. We carry the name ‘Start-Up Nation’ far and wide. But the truth is that as the hi-tech economy has flourished, there are those that have been left behind. Like the rest of us, Haredim – men and women – want to provide well for their families.”
The president added, “this report indicates that hi-tech is an optimal space for incorporating Haredim, a sector of society that prizes education and learning, is committed and highly motivated. We should remember that when it comes to training, there are no magic wands. We must ensure that if someone from the Haredi community goes for a job in hi-tech that their level of professional training will not be less than the other candidates. Haredi society is not just responsible for itself. Haredi society has a responsibility for the State of Israel and its economy. Bringing Haredim into the workforce is clearly in the interest of Israel as a whole. The continued success of our country depends on it.”
At the end of his remarks, the president thanked deputy minister Maklev for establishing the Socio-Economic Development Authority for the Haredi sector, and Machon Lev, Keren Kemach and the other partners who were not able to be present at the event due to the restrictions.
Deputy minister of transport and head of the Socio-Economic Development Authority for the Haredi sector, Uri Maklev praised the results of the report as very encouraging, saying, "Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic has hit Haredi employment hard, and we see workplaces telling their Haredi employees not to come to work. The report clearly shows that when we invest in this field, the results are impressive. The authors have practical and implementable ideas which understand the need and what must be done to incorporate the Haredi sector in meaningful jobs. They look at the roots of the problems and obstacles and offer solutions that lead to results. Accordingly, we must invest more – particularly at this time. The possibility of preserving an ultra-Orthodox lifestyle and culture in an appropriate working environment is important. There is a large gap in job opportunities and the support of government institutions and the private sector can help in with this.”
Meanwhile Karin Mayer-Rubenstein, President and CEO of IATI said, “The hi-tech sector can be a key element of the Zionist endeavor in our times. The challenge of strengthening the partnership between the different parts of our society is a true and existential need. The main obstacle to the growth of the hi-tech industry today is the lack of trained personnel. Incorporating secular, ultra-Orthodox, Arabs, Druze and all parts of our society is a sacred task for the hi-tech industry and they can meet this national challenge. At IATI we have set the goal of advancing policies that encourage innovation and entrepreneurship that strengthen Israel’s economy. We believe that diversity in employment and finding the right way to include all parts of the society in the workforce is the key to the future of Israel’s hi-tech economy.”
“We are encouraged and optimistic at the findings of the report which offer a real opportunity. It is precisely now, when we face a deep crisis in employment with long-term implications for Israel’s economy, that we see the huge opportunity of a process that brings the Haredi community into the field of hi-tech, and into the workforce as a whole. I call on employers – there are thousands of Haredim studying hi-tech subjects. Open your doors to this sector of society and enjoy their talents, their huge motivation and their qualities.” said CEO of KamaTech Moshe Friedman.
Sari Roth, senior Haredi hi-tech employee explained, saying, “We at KamaTech are leading a training and placement program in hi-tech. Our flagship program teaches program engineering to close to a thousand women from the various colleges and then places them in the workforce. We undertook this task with the full support of hi-tech companies and the colleges who understand the difficulties the students face in finding appropriate work to fit their capabilities. Today, these women are working in companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft and Mobileye, where they are making great contributions.”
Attached photo credit: Amos Ben-Gershom, GPO
