Ultra-Orthodox Economic Power: Examining Claims of 51 Billion Shekel Annual Spending
A recent statement by Israeli lawmaker Meir Porush, claiming the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) public spends over 51 billion shekels annually and possesses significant economic leverage, has been examined for accuracy. Porush, speaking at an event for the Tבונה organization, which assists the Haredi community with financial matters, asserted this spending power could be used as a lever against the Israeli economy and decision-makers.
However, data from the Institute for the Study of Ultra-Orthodox Society's 2025 yearbook, using 2022 figures, suggests a lower consumption expenditure of approximately 39.4 billion shekels. Even when including mandatory payments, the total reaches about 43.2 billion shekels. Methodological issues with how the Central Bureau of Statistics calculates the number of Haredi households, potentially inflating the sample based on a small number of families, have been raised by researchers.
Alternative calculations, which combine more recent population estimates with older spending data, can approach Porush's figure. For instance, using 2025 population estimates and 2023 spending data yields around 51.5 billion shekels, though this mixes data from different years. Other analyses, using different methodologies and data points from 2023 and 2024, suggest figures closer to 47 billion shekels or just under 51.5 billion shekels.
Beyond the exact monetary figure, the practical application of this "consumer power" is questioned. Dr. Hila Axelrod, director of the Center for Economic Policy of the Ultra-Orthodox Society at Reichman University, notes that while the community is cohesive and could potentially boycott private businesses, leveraging this power against the state is difficult. Their consumption is largely basic, and their savings and pensions are limited due to lower incomes, making threats of withdrawing funds less impactful.
Ultimately, while some calculation methods can arrive at figures close to 51 billion shekels, the ability of the Haredi community to effectively use this spending as a political or economic weapon against the state is considered limited due to their economic realities and the nature of their consumption. Porush's office did not provide a response.
