Most haredi-background recruits who enlist in the IDF had already left the ultra-Orthodox community before their military service, according to a report released on Wednesday by Out for Change, an organization that assists individuals leaving haredi society.
The findings challenge a widely cited argument in the debate over haredi enlistment—that military service itself causes religious disaffiliation. Instead, the report presents service in the IDF as a result of an existing process of exit, not its cause.
Enlistment follows departure, not the other way around
The study is based on surveys conducted between 2016 and 2025 among 663 male ex-servicemen who had served in the IDF. It shows that roughly 60% of men who left the ultra-Orthodox community went on to enlist, compared with just 8% of those who remained haredi.
The majority of recruits had begun their departure from the community prior to enlistment. Among those who served in general IDF tracks, 87% enlisted either after or during their exit from the haredi world. Within this group, 75% had already left at least a year before joining the army, while another 12% left during the year they enlisted.
Among recruits in haredi-designated units, 71% began service after or during their exit. Half had already left the community a year prior, while 21% were in the process of leaving at the time of enlistment.
For younger men aged 20 to 29, the pattern is even clearer: 94% of those surveyed enlisted after or during their departure from the ultra-Orthodox world. Among older recruits, 73% had completed their exit before entering the army.
Cultural barriers persist for women
While men enlist in relatively large numbers after leaving haredi life, the report highlights a stark contrast for women. Just 10% of female ex-haredim had served in the IDF, while enlistment among women who remained haredi was nearly nonexistent.
Most of the women who did serve had left the community before turning 18, and only 3% of those who exited after age 20 enlisted. The report attributes these numbers to a deeply rooted social taboo in the haredi community against military service for women. All of the female respondents who served had already left their community by the time they joined the army.
Dr. Adar Anisman, head of research and knowledge at Out for Change, stated that the data clearly indicates that military service is not the primary reason for leaving haredi life. Instead, for many, it is a conscious step toward integration into broader Israeli society.
“Enlistment is often a practical decision taken after the exit process has already begun,” she said. “It provides an opportunity to gain tools for civilian life and to engage with wider Israeli society.”
While she acknowledged that some individuals serving in haredi units may find it difficult to maintain a religious lifestyle, leading a few to reassess their identity, this is not the prevailing trend.
Calls for a more tailored military policy
The organization’s CEO, Nadav Rosenblatt, stated that the IDF must adapt its recruitment and support frameworks to reflect the fact that many haredi school graduates who choose to serve in general IDF tracks no longer follow a haredi lifestyle, even if they remain religious or traditional.
While stressing the importance of maintaining haredi-designated tracks for those who wish to preserve religious observance during service, he called for expanded guidance for those serving in general units – both during military service and as they transition to civilian life.
Although pre-enlistment programs already exist for haredi-background recruits, the report urges the Defense Ministry and the IDF to formalize and expand these support systems throughout and after military service.
The report is based on IDF data, Central Bureau of Statistics surveys, internal research conducted by the organization over the past decade, and in-depth interviews. It focuses specifically on the timing of exit from the haredi community among IDF recruits.