Elections 2026: Interview: Ha’Tzibbur Ha’Charedi

This is a restart of this blog, as we now “settle” into year two of our Aliyah. This will be our first Israeli election, which seems hard to believe. As a lobbyist in the States, I would reach out to credible candidates in each party (or whichever side was the non-incumbent) to meet & share our organizational priorities. While I’m not a lobbyist here, I do want to hear directly from all the major “lists” and parties. And, I want to figure out where I can work with whoever wins, whoever is in the government, and whoever is in the opposition. As a “new” Oleh, there’s a lot to do! Israel’s economy needs us. Its public diplomacy needs us. And the Jewish people, here and abroad, need us. So I reached out to the “big” parties. Check back to see who else responds. But this first post is off a WhatsApp conversation with HaTzibbur Ha’Charedi, and with Ziva Glanz specifically.

Ziva Glanz lives in Mevaseret Zion. She is originally from Passaic, New Jersey (which is where our paths first crossed), and made aliyah in 2005. She manages regional infrastructure projects which are public-private partnerships and is therefore a leader in planning, housing, building new communities and urban master plans. She is also founder of Lashuv, a volunteer professional network which helps facilitate group Aliyah and absorption and is Director of the Discretionary Fund of Israel, created after October 7th to fund projects of national import, in partnership with the Ministry of Defense, National Police and Firefighters and other entities of national security.

Below is based on the conversation. She’s reviewed the final draft for accuracy.

For Americans coming at this as their first election in a parliamentary system, and, Israel’s first elections since October 7, there’s a lot to unpack. Israel was, no matter the explanation, caught by surprise that day. The heroism of everyday Israelis, Jews & Arabs, in saving lives, rescuing people trapped, and in fighting back against the invaders, often at the worst imaginable odds, takes your breath away. That day, and the war that followed, brought forth a unity that would have been inconceivable a few days earlier. Even now, it’s hard to remember it. Then, the “before” was judicial reform. Now, it’s after, the “Charedi draft.” The next Knesset, and the next government will need to figure all this out.

Israel not only rallied October 7, but it recovered. From a tense few days & weeks where Israel seemed more vulnerable than at any point since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Israel defeated Hamas in Gaza, decapitated (or pager-capitated) Hezbollah, and twice in a year, together with the United States as literal and strategic wingmen, pushed Iran to the brink. But Hamas is not yet disarmed, Hezbollah has not been driven from Lebanon, the Houthis still threaten, and Iran is down but not yet out. Worldwide, it’s no longer correct to say antisemitism and Jew-hatred are rising. They have risen, and there seems to be no going back. The dam’s been broken, and we have reversed nearly a hundred years of progress in keeping Jewish communities safe and welcome. And yet, both Israel and the Diaspora remain strong. Israel’s economy is a case study in resilience. Through all of this, the question is what Israel we will leave the next generation, and who our partners are worldwide, within and outside the Jewish community. Now, to the questions:

On unity amid deep political & philosophical division; especially when it seems on many divisive topics the vast majority of Israelis seem to basically agree, but extremists on all sides make it near impossible to compromise

Ziva Glanz:

We hope we can find a way to unity once again. Our platform is based on the idea of fixing the issues within the Charedi community itself and through that alleviating a lot of the pressure, anxiety, and animosity that the rest of Israelis feel toward the Charedi sector. By helping the Charedi community become a more connected and integral part of Israeli society as a whole, by fixing the issues surrounding the draft, giving the Charedim the tools they need to find a meaningful job that can pay them a living wage and pull families out of poverty, by providing ample and adequate housing so that all families, Charedim included, can have a place to live, and by doing this in a manner in which Charedim can still live a Charedi lifestyle according to their values, we endeavor to make the Charedi community one of the more vibrant and self-sustaining sectors of Israeli society, and thereby fix many of the issues that are dividing the country and the massive schism that currently exists and has only grown larger under the current political leadership.

On solving the draft problem

Ziva Glanz:

Regarding the draft issue, our philosophy is simple. The right wing bloc, with the two legacy Charedi parties included, had many years to solve the problem, but instead, they exacerbated it. The left wing bloc had its opportunities as well, and they kicked it down the road. All the while the problem remained untouched. Neither side actually wants to fix the problem. They would rather simply talk about fixing the problem, while continuing to let it grow and maintaining the status quo. With that in mind, we have learned from experience that one cannot force a community with the size and depth of tradition as the Charedim have, to enlist in a program that they don’t feel comfortable in, and into a form of service that isn’t equipped to handle them or provide them with what they need. The change needs to come from within, and it needs to be done in a manner where the participants in the program can hold true to their ideals and values while going through whatever track of service is most appropriate for them.

Such programs have begun to pop-up in recent years. Tracks like the Hashmonaim brigade, or Charedi Hesder Yeshivas exist, but they are looked down upon inside the community, the political leadership has not given them nearly the amount of resources they need, and the participants are socially ostracized when they return home. That all needs to stop. These programs need to be funded, and they need to be supported so that they can go mainstream and there needs to be a shift inside the Charedi community where those who participate in these programs are welcomed. Many Charedi participants should be enrolled in these tracks, be they IDF or national service, but not all. There is still a place for those who genuinely study Torah and excel at it to do so. They must be protected by law, and allowed to continue to do so. That framework needs to be built and established with ground rules that work. Those that do not study all day, should serve.

Transforming battlefield successes into strategic wins

Ziva Glanz:

The party is decidedly a right-wing party and supports Bibi as our preferred candidate to form a government. We support his initiatives to form a coalition which will protect Israel’s borders fully.

What we do now can create the Israel we want to see in 10–15 years

Ziva Glanz:

Right now, many people, especially Charedi have a fear that, if they move to Israel, they would be forced to choose between their religious ideals, and the economic and financial ethos. A lot of Charedim, especially from North America, but from other parts of the world as well, who work for a living, who are part of the larger society in their own countries, look at the Charedi community in Israel and can’t envision being a part of what has become of the community here. This is what we are trying to change so that working Charedim can have a home here, without being ostracized by the established Charedi community. This is exactly what we need to change so that in 10-15 years these working Charedim will be able to find a home and community in Israel that they feel comfortable with, both working and being a contributing member of Israel while still maintaining their Charedi religious beliefs and lifestyle.

I think this is so important not only so that we can welcome as many Olim as possible to Israel, but also because I believe very strongly in the Anglo community in Israel. I believe it is the only community that can successfully bring the healing to Israel that is so desperately needed between the various sectors here. Israel needs that healing and the Anglo demographic is perfectly suited to be the model for how that can work.

Economic Diplomacy & Outreach beyond the capitals

Ziva Glanz:

Economic reform is a central pillar to our platform. We want to decrease regulation and bureaucratic hurdles so that processes can be streamlined and so that we can encourage more international investment into Israel. That will create more jobs as we are looking to help employ thousands. Please see our full economic platform for a broader look at our priorities.

Antisemitism & Diaspora Issues

Ziva Glanz:

History has taught us that if we fix our problems internally, often the external problems will fall away, at least for a time. That is why our focus is on the most urgent and existential threat to the Jewish people, solving our own internal conflict. In doing so, we hope to make Israel an amazing option for many future Olim who are looking to move.

Diaspora Jewry as real partners, and a focus on Aliyah

Ziva Glanz:

As I mentioned, we see Anglo Jewry as the leaders in how to model communities where a person can be fully frum, but also work to support his or her family with dignity. This is not a ‘second class’ goal in any way. Each person needs to be able to flourish with their given talents and strengths and help contribute those strengths to the greater public. For Anglos, those ideals are intuitive. We need to recognize ourselves as models of that paradigm and be proud to help manifest it in Israel as well. Our party has 4 fully Anglo candidates on its list. As such, Aliyah and integration is a central focus of the party. You can see our full Aliyah platform here.

The party’s biggest accomplishment, or what we’re most proud of

Ziva Glanz:

Though we are a new party, we have already made a historical shift within the landscape of Israel society. This is a grassroots movement with momentum that can only be described as supernatural. It is something which has been remarkable to witness and which we plan to continue to grow in the next Knesset.

Advice for Olim new to a parliamentary ballot (or a parliamentary ballot with so many parties)

Ziva Glanz:

All Israelis, Olim included should vote for the party that best suits them, and the one that they think will solve Israel’s biggest problems, bring unity and a future that they can be proud of for their children and grandchildren.

Despite the problems, Israelis live with hope

Ziva Glanz:

Israel has always been a place where people can have disagreements, come from different backgrounds and different ways of life, but remember that we are all family, we are all Hashem’s people and when we do that great things can happen.

An outward looking, and whole-of-country, platform in some ways much more Diaspora like than the traditional Israeli Charedi parties, on purpose

Ziva Glanz:

Yes, it’s time to take responsibility for our community and for what we can do and should do to be a supporting sector of Israeli society. We are part of a bigger society, and we are a growing part, perhaps the largest and fastest growing part. If we don’t make these changes now, if we don’t take responsibility for our role in the future of Israel, we are on course for a calamity.

Does a growing Charedi community, like elsewhere in the world, take on more communal-wide responsibilities

Ziva Glanz:

Absolutely, as has been referenced above and in our platform.