Israel Hershkovitz

Israel Hershkovitz is an ultra-Orthodox journalist who has served for the past 20 years as consumer and health correspondent for the HaModi'a newspaper. He is currently publishing his views in several ultra-Orthodox media outlets.

Israel | Nov 21, 2022

New York ultra-Orthodox welcome ostracized Israeli rabbi

Disgraced Rabbi Shaul Alter is banished from his Gur community in Israel, but he found a very warm welcome on a trip to the United States.

Israel | Oct 31, 2022

Israel's ultra-Orthodox parties make final push ahead of election

With the young ultra-Orthodox sick of their veteran politicians and expressing support for ultranationalist Itamar Ben-Gvir, the ultra-Orthodox parties fear losing votes.

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men and children perform the "Tashlich" ritual, during which "sins are cast into the water to the fish," ahead of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), Netanya, Israel, Oct. 3, 2022.

Israel | Oct 17, 2022

Ultra-Orthodox campaigning goes digital as Israeli election nears

In a dramatic shift from past elections, ultra-Orthodox parties have gone digital to keep up with their own constituencies.

Israel | Oct 3, 2022

Ultra-Orthodox address mental illness in Israel

Bayit Cham battles against the attitude still prevalent among many ultra-Orthodox families that mental illness is something that needs hiding.

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews attend the funeral of Rabbi Shalom Cohen, influential spiritual leader of Israel's largest ultra-Orthodox Shas party, Jerusalem, Aug. 22, 2022.

Israel | Sep 14, 2022

Rabbinical ruling helps Jewish Israeli women get divorced

Attempting to pressure a husband who refuses to grant a divorce writ to his wife, the Israel Chief rabbinate ruled that his father would be prevented from being buried in Israel when the time comes.

Israel | Aug 31, 2022

Israeli settlement intended for ultra-Orthodox draws new residents

After years of failure to attract ultra-Orthodox residents, the West Bank settlement of Emmanuel is starting to interest middle-class families.

A partial view of the Israeli settlement of Ariel, near the West Bank city of Nablus, Jan. 25, 2017.

Israel | Aug 24, 2022

Despite war, thousands of Israeli Hasidim make pilgrimage to Ukraine

Much like the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine won’t stop thousands of Hasidim from reaching the city of Uman and the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov just before the Jewish New Year.

Israel | Aug 16, 2022

On lightning vacations, Ultra-Orthodox pour onto segregated Israeli beaches

Israel's ultra-Orthodox have only three weeks of yeshiva break, and they take their brief summer vacation very seriously.

Israel | Aug 3, 2022

Israel's ultra-Orthodox entrepreneurs ignore internet taboos

The leadership of the ultra-Orthodox communities in Israel are against the internet, but more and more ultra-Orthodox businesses find ways to be part of the digital arena.