'The New Fund has increased its support for organizations operating in the ultra-Orthodox community.

December 1, 2020   

Are they trying to change the Haredi public? Last week, a unique course for the Haredi sector was opened by the 'Ir Amim' association - 'A workshop to get to know East Jerusalem intended for the Haredi public.'. Crazy opportunity: Thousands of jobs from leading companies are waiting for you The course is funded by the Adenauer Foundation, a foreign foundation from Germany, and its goal is to "expand and deepen the connection" of the Haredi sector with what is happening in East Jerusalem. In previous years, the course has also been funded through foreign funding. This is not the only thing that 'City of Nations' is running specifically for the Haredi public. This week, an online conference will also be held via Zoom on the situation of Haredi and Arab women in Jerusalem. In the past, the organization has even held special tours specifically for the Haredi public in East Jerusalem. This is not the only effort being made to change the positions of the Haredi public either: The person coordinating the 'Ir Amim' course is Pnina Poifer, a Haredi public activist from Jerusalem, who has been working for the past year as the chairwoman of the organization 'Haredim Mamlachayim'. This is an organization that operates behind the scenes with full funding from the 'New Fund', and its goal is to change the positions of the Haredi public on issues such as religion and state, the Land of Israel, and more. The organization does not declare this and even distributes food baskets to those in need. Pnina Poifer: "The Ir Amim course is designed to do exactly what it says in the ad. The course has been available to the Haredi for 4 years and the idea is to get to know the issues." So what does an organization funded by foreign countries have to look for in the Haredi sector and who is behind this initiative? The New Israel Fund is a foreign corporation that operates in the State of Israel through nearly a hundred organizations. Many of the organizations are well-known, such as Breaking the Silence, B'Tselem, and others. However, some are less well-known. Ir Amim is an organization that has been working in recent years to prevent Jewish sovereignty in East Jerusalem and is fighting for the right of Jews to ascend the Temple Mount. The organization, most of whose money comes from the European Union and foreign countries and also receives funding from the New Israel Fund, presents itself as a non-partisan organization. However, its leaders support the two-state solution and oppose Jewish construction in neighborhoods such as Ramat Shlomo, Givat Hamatos, Ramot, the Old City, and the Gilo neighborhood. The Ir Amim association stated: "Ir Amim is proud to work with a wide variety of audiences from different religions and sects living in Jerusalem and beyond. "In order to present to them the complexity of life in the city in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to promote a better political future in it." In response to the question whether Ir Amim opposes construction in the Haredi neighborhoods of Ramot and Ramat Shlomo - the Haredi 10 Association replied: "Ir Amim opposes construction in Ramat Shlomo. Any construction beyond the Green Line (1967) is problematic and Ir Amim opposes it.". We asked the New Israel Fund: Why does the fund invest so much capital in the Haredi sector? Is the official goal to change the sector's positions to left-wing positions? What is the purpose of establishing a state-run Haredi organization? How much money do you invest in this organization and in general in attempts to lead to change in the Haredi public? A spokesperson for the New Israel Fund: "In recent years, the New Israel Fund has increased its support for organizations operating in the Haredi public, including the state-run Haredi organization, with the aim of encouraging civic initiatives that promote distributive justice, education and women's rights, together with activists and activities from within Haredi society. "With its support, the fund seeks to empower the various voices found in Haredi society and help them succeed in their activities. The New Israel Fund works together with its many partners from within the ultra-Orthodox community and Israeli society as a whole to promote a civic agenda that advocates for equality and justice." The organization "In the Picture" tells the ultra-Orthodox 10: "The foreign money that comes from abroad and from the New Israel Fund works to change the State of Israel into a state for all its citizens. In addition, this money works to directly change the ultra-Orthodox public by funding various petitions. For example, by preventing incidents of segregation and more. We call on the ultra-Orthodox public: Let him who guards his soul stay away from them. Do not approach an organization that operates with foreign funds, it may even be anti-Semitic.".