1st Haredi Hesder Chedvata: Modern Day Maccabees!

In an era when unity seems increasingly elusive for Israel, a quiet revolution is unfolding—one that helps to heal the most divisive issue facing Israel. It’s a revolution led by a few forward thinking Haredim, dedicated to Torah, the State of Israel, and the Jewish future. And the name for this budding revolution is Chedvata.

A Game Changer for Israel.
Chedvata is the first-ever Haredi Hesder program designed and run by Haredim 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 3-part Chedvata program consists of Torah study in the mornings, career training in the afternoon with Ashkelon College, followed by army service in a Haredi IDF unit.

This system enables Haredi young men to remain committed to the religious lifestyle while at the same time contributing to Israel’s military, an academic degree and financial independence.

What sets Chedvata apart is the fact that it was conceived and is managed entirely by Haredim. This is not a secular initiative trying to impose its will on the Haredi community. Instead, it is an organic response from within the community itself by a growing recognition that not all Haredi 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 Haredi community to integrate more fully into Israeli society.

The Haredi Draft Issue: A Threat to National Unity.
The most divisive issue in Israel today, polarizing the nation, is the Haredi draft exemption. The stakes are only growing higher as Israel’s Haredi population expands exponentially, making finding a solution to this problem even more urgent. This is where Chedvata comes in.

By increasing the number of Haredim serving in the IDF, Chedvata is addressing the issue head-on. As more Haredi 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 comradery among the Haredi 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 the Haredim in the IDF, and this “carrot”, which includes staying within a Torah framework, is appealing to many Haredim.

We all sense, deep within us, that unity is the key to victory.  Chedvata is not just a game-changer for the Haredi community but it is also a game-changer for Israel as a whole, making Israeli society more cohesive and our future brighter.

The Maccabees of old fought for Jewish independence from the Greeks. Today, Chedvata’s graduates are forging a new chapter in Israel’s history—strengthening the army, boosting the economy, and helping to build a more unified and secure nation for all. Happy Chanakah!