The Normalization and Acceptance of The Datiim, Torah Observant

Not all that long ago, you didn't see Datiim, religious guys in kippot holding the microphone, being part of the news team on Israeli television. Datiim were allocated an hour or two a week, for the pre and post Shabbat programs. As far as I know, there were media men who kept traditional Jewish Homes, Kashrut and Shabbat, but their kippot stayed in their pocket when on camera.

After a long break, since IBA Israel Broadcasting Authority closed, we can now watch the  Kan Israeli television stations and the newscasts at home. I'm noticing kippot, and I can't help but to smile.

For me, this is a new Israel.

And since we're in Elections mode, I'll explain the connection. Today's young datiim, aka the "national religious," see themselves as full participants in the State of Israel in a way that their grandparents and even parents couldn't have imagined.

Sociologically speaking, of course, in the early days of the State of Israel, the datiim, were usually educated in the State Religious, mamlachti dati schools. It was believed that without the NRP National Religious Party, today the name has been changed to Jewish Home Party, in the coalition their school systems' survival would be in danger. That's why the NRP had to be in every coalition, and the parents of the students and the system's graduates had to vote for it.

Post 1967 Six Days War, two things happened. One was that the NRP voters became more ideological; they were the most enthusiastic Israelis for settling all the the Land liberated in the war. Two was that the State Religious school system had become strongly part of the Ministry of Education establishment, and the NRP could no longer campaign that they were needed to preserve it. That's one of the reasons the NRP is having such an identity and leadership crisis.

Today's young datiim don't like to be restricted. More and more girls are doing army service, and not as teachers. Their brothers are also taking on more challenges in the IDF.

Israel is the only Jewish country in the world. Our people are an ancient people, whose historic peers no longer exist. At the same time, Israel is a new country and always changing, innovating, growing. Even after close to half a century here in Israel, I find it all very exciting.