About a third of the babies born in Israel in 2010 were born into the ultra-Orthodox community -- an insular and devout minority that has long been at odds with the rest of the modern and prosperous country, according to the Huffington Post website.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews -- known in Hebrew as "Haredim," or "those who tremble" before God -- have a birthrate far higher than that of other Israeli Jews, with 10 children in a single family not uncommon. Indeed, they are determined to become far more numerous and influential.
Relations between Haredim and other Israelis have never been smooth. Critics have long complained that they shun work in large numbers in favor of religious study, rejecting mainstream Israel even as they rely on that mainstream for financial support.
There are about 700,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews living in Israel, and about half of the adults do not work. The financial daily, The Marker, stated this week that if Haredim do not begin working in large numbers soon, this will have a negative impact on Israel's future.
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