Enrollment is climbing fast in this program that’s a game changer for Israel.
Chedvata is the first Charedi Hesder program designed and run by charedim themselves, and it’s growing fast. For those unfamiliar with the Hesder Yeshiva system, it’s a model that combines Torah study with military service.
The three-part Chedvata program consists of Torah study in the mornings, career training in the afternoons with Ashkelon College, followed by army service in a charedi IDF unit. This system enables charedi young men to remain committed to the religious lifestyle while at the same time contributing to Israel’s military and striving for an academic degree and financial independence.
What sets Chedvata apart is the fact that it was conceived and is managed entirely by charedim. This is not a secular initiative trying to impose its will on the charedi community. Instead, it is an organic response from within the community itself by a growing recognition that not all charedi men are suited for full-time Torah study.
The results speak for themselves. While last year, Chedvata enrolled 300 students, this year that number jumped to well over 400, all without any formal advertising—purely by word of mouth. If fully funded and supported, Chedvata could easily scale its model to thousands of students, offering a clear path forward for a significant part of the charedi community to integrate more fully into Israeli society.
The Charedi Draft Issue:
A Threat to National Unity
One of the most divisive issues in Israel today, polarizing the nation, is the charedi draft exemption. The stakes are only growing higher as Israel’s charedi population expands exponentially, making finding a solution even more urgent. This is where Chedvata comes in. By increasing the number of charedim serving in the IDF, Chedvata is addressing the issue head-on.
As more charedi men serve in the military, the broader Israeli public sees more of their religious neighbors actively contributing to the nation’s security. This, in turn, fosters greater camaraderie among the charedi community toward the general Israeli public as well. The academic training is vital as well, as Chedvata graduates earn high-paying positions in Israel in high tech and other fields, which boosts their confidence and self-worth.
Historically only “carrots” and not “sticks” have worked to increase the number of charedim in the IDF, and this carrot, which includes staying within a Torah framework, is appealing to many charedim.
We all sense, deep within us, that unity is the key to victory. Chedvata (www.chedvata.org) is not just a game changer for the charedi community but it is also a game changer for Israel as a whole, making Israeli society more cohesive and its future brighter.
Originally from Silver Spring, Maryland, Tzvi Binn, a Jewish educator by training and an advocate for Jewish achdut (unity), resides with his wife, children and grandchildren in Jerusalem.
