Modern Haredi Communities Form Ideological Bloc Within Likud Ahead of Elections

A new initiative called "Community Haredi" is emerging within Israel's ruling Likud party, aiming to represent the interests of modern Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jews who feel underrepresented by traditional Haredi parties. This movement seeks to unite various modern Haredi communities and activists into a cohesive ideological faction that advocates for the needs of working and modern Haredim, including issues like educational frameworks for girls and military service arrangements.

The initiative began several months ago and is led by public activists Simcha Bernstein and Israel Schwibel, both formerly associated with the Degel HaTorah party. They emphasize strong political support for the right-wing bloc led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Over a thousand Likud members from Haredi backgrounds have already joined the movement, which is organizing through a community matching model where each group recruits its members who are already Likud affiliates.

In recent weeks, quiet meetings have taken place across multiple communities to prepare for the upcoming Likud primaries, with many more expected to join. This effort marks a significant shift in Haredi political organization within Likud, moving from fragmented groups focused on narrow interests to a unified ideological bloc representing the broader modern Haredi public. The movement aims to influence decision-makers within the ruling party to address the real needs of the modern Haredi sector ahead of the next elections.