There is a variety of religious Jewish sectors in Israel; from the modern-orthodox (Dati-Leumi) to the ultra-religious community (Haredi), which also differs internally between men and women. While the former is mostly integrated into Israeli everyday life, including military service and higher education, the haredi crowd often do not learn basic topics in high schools such as math, English as a foreign language, computers, science, and more. This creates a massive gap between them and the rest of the population and puts them way behind in the job market.
While the haredi community preferred to stay detached in the past, nowadays, more and more are joining the high-tech scene. Different programs have emerged to provide a fast core education and train them to join high-tech companies.
#1 Keep your distance
The ultra-religious community is very strict when it comes to separation between genders. It’s true regarding physical contact, so don’t reach out your hand to a candidate from the opposite sex also when interviewing.
#2 Plan in advance
Avoid situations where a man and a woman are alone in a closed room, or even alone together in the office late in the day.
#3 Give needed time
Men will often require some time for midday prayer (Mincha), usually around 13.30 or later in the day. Be sensitive when scheduling meetings and sessions.
#4 Kitchen rules
Food restrictions are also important, and you should provide all the facilities for them. This could be a separate microwave with a sign, plastic or paper cups and cutlery, and of course kosher food and drinks.
#5 Make inclusive events
When organizing an event, make sure the food is kosher or have kosher options for the religious and ultra-religious employees. Remember there are different levels of kosher food, so make sure to adjust it for the employees. Usually, haredi employees will ask for the highest level, but always best to ask.
#6 Know your holidays
Be aware of the Jewish calendar, as some holidays are observed yet not commemorated by the public, such as Tisha Be’av.
To diversify your workforce, you have to look for talent where you haven’t looked before, and be open to getting to know new cultures and needs. The following organizations can help you take your first steps:
The Portland Trust (TPT) is a non-profit ‘action tank’ established in 2003 with the mission of promoting peace and stability in the area through economic development. TPT Tel-Aviv is focused on enhancing economic opportunities for Arab and Haredi societies and other periphery communities. Their programs include various projects to promote integration into Israeli society through high-quality employability and developing economic opportunities. By creating unique models, TPT engages and leverages private sector actors and Governmental support in all our programs.
Target audience: Arabs & Ultra-Orthodox
Operating mode: Outsourcing
Education level: All
Program name: The Portland Trust
Are employers part of the admissions process? No
Are employers part of the training? No
More info
KamaTech is the one of leading organizations in Israel to integrate Haredi men and women into the Israeli high-tech industry. Over the past 5 years KamaTech helped build over 50 Haredi startups which employed 700 employees, as well as training and placement programs for thousands of Haredi Men and women into the leading high-tech companies such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Cisco, Western Digital, Intel, Mobileye, Checkpoint, Nokia, Verint, etc.
Target audience: Orthodox Israelis
Operating mode: Direct employment and outsourcing
Education level: Technological and non-technological B.A. and up
Program name: KamaTech
Are employers part of the admissions process? Sometimes
Are employers part of the training? Sometimes
Heznekim is a 7 year old program initiated by Yedidut Toronto in collaboration with Israel’s Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, and Social Services. The aim of Heznekim is to create a cohort of Haredi graduates of prestigious institutions in the field of Hi-tech and to support their transition into high-quality positions within market-leading companies. The program also aims to increase employer awareness of the possibilities presented by employing candidates from this sector.
Target audience: Orthodox
Operating mode: Direct placement
Education level: STEM bachelor’s degree
Program name: Heznekim Toronto Foundation
Are employers part of the admissions process? No
Are employers part of the training? No
More info
Rachip is an R&D center, specializing in Hardware and Software development. Experts in ASIC/FPGA development, Embedded systems, Web & Mobile apps and QA/Automation. The company works with industries such as: Semiconductors, Medical, Automotive, Communication, IoT, Fintech and more. Rachip employs 130 Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) women engineers in 2 R&D centers, in Bnei-Brak and Haifa. Among the Company’s clients are Multinational companies, Israeli Defense companies and various innovative startups
Target audience: Orthodox Israelis and women
Operating mode: Direct employment and outsourcing
Education level: All
Program name: Rachip – R&D Center, SW&HW
Are employers part of the admissions process? Sometimes
Are employers part of the training? Sometimes
3Base is an ultra-Orthodox company that advocates two central principles; Maintaining the company orthodox tone and to keep growing as a leading technology software company in the Israeli high-tech market. 3Base’s purpose is to bring orthodox women into the possibility of working in leading technology companies in the market at appropriate and fair salary. The aim is to enable access to both “Juniors” coders without previous experience and veteran, highly experienced programmers and developers.
Target audience: Orthodox Israelis
Operating mode: Outsourcing
Education level: Technological diploma
Program name: 3BASE
Are employers part of the admissions process? Yes
Are employers part of the training? No
More info :
Noa Klot, Co CEO – 054-6792104 – [email protected]
The human resources of our company are a hugely influential factor in determining our success. The diversity of cultures, societies, religions, geographical areas, age, gender, faiths, and opinions that are encompassed in our employees are a driving force that inspires us every single day and lends us the opportunity to build, innovate and achieve our client’s goals, as well as our own. Our continuous vision and aspiration are to make a real, meaningful contribution to our society by committing to creating employment opportunities for all talents, enabling diversity in the world of high-tech (an industry dominated mainly by males), and thereby also making a positive impact on our industry and indeed the economy as a whole.
Target audience: Orthodox Israelis, women, periphery
Operating mode: Direct employment and outsourcing
Education level: high-school graduates, diploma, technological and non-technological B.A. and up
Program name: Matrix – Talpiot
Are employers part of the admissions process? No
Are employers part of the training? Sometimes
The TechVenture program – a partnership between the Government of Israel, JDC and the Coalition – aims to increase the number of Haredim working in the high-tech industry, and facilitate a shift for Haredi employees from the periphery of this industry into core roles within the tech sphere
Target audience:
Operating mode:
Education level:
Program name:
Are employers part of the admissions process?
Are employers part of the training?
More info :
National Project for Integrating Haredi In the High-tech presentation
052-6267025 – [email protected]
בכירי ההייטק יכשירו 10,000 חרדים, ערבים ואתיופים לעבודה בתחום בתוך שנתיים פאלו אלטו, קרן אינסייט ובכירים נוספים בענף מקימים פלטפורמה חדשה לגיוס והכשרת עובדים. היעד: להכשיר 10,000 עובדים ממגזרים שסובלים מתת ייצוג בענף לעבודה בחברות. יגובש הליך איתור וסינון מועמדים חדש וייערכו התמחויות בחברות השותפות
THE HAREDI HI-TECH REPORT 2020
