Political Struggles Over Plastic Waste Management in Israel

Political Struggles Over Plastic Waste Management in Israel

In Israel, the Haredi community, which currently makes up 13% of the population, is projected to grow to a quarter by 2050. This growth raises questions about the community's environmental impact, particularly in terms of plastic use and waste.

While religious beliefs and practices in the Haredi Jewish community often shape daily life and consumption habits, their environmental attitudes are also influenced by social, cultural, and economic factors distinct from secular Israeli society.

On one hand, the community's limited use of technology, non-use of electricity on Shabbat, and communal living contribute to a sustainable lifestyle. Reducing the chore load is especially important on Shabbat, the day of rest, in the Haredi community. These practices, though not directly linked to environmental concerns, do result in a lower carbon footprint.

However, the community's large family sizes, urban density, and traditional lifestyle may lead to higher plastic use and environmental impact if not balanced by conscious efforts. The Haredi community often relies on separate schooling and communal infrastructure, which can limit exposure to broader environmental campaigns prevalent in Israeli society.

The Haredi community's high fertility rate, averaging 6.5 children per woman, contributes to a significant increase in consumption, including plastic products. Disposables, such as plastic utensils, are often used to separate dairy and meat as required by kosher practices and to cover counters during Passover, a seven-day Jewish holiday.

Despite these factors, there is growing recognition within some sectors of the community about the importance of environmental responsibility from a Torah perspective, including principles of "Bal Tashchit" (prohibition against wastefulness) which might influence attitudes toward plastic use and waste.

Attempts to address the issue, such as a tax on single-use plastics in 2021, were met with opposition and were quickly scrapped by the newly appointed finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich. Critics argue that placing the burden of environmentalism on the ultra-Orthodox community is counterproductive due to their perceived alienation by Israel's secular society.

A better approach, some suggest, would be to approach rabbis in the community and explain the reason behind such measures to gain their buy-in. This would help to foster a dialogue within the community about the intersection of their faith and environmental responsibility.

In conclusion, while Haredi religious beliefs provide some basis for environmental ethics, their environmental attitudes and plastic use are shaped by a complex interplay of religious, social, cultural, and economic factors. There is an emerging dialogue within Israel on how these communities can enhance ecological awareness consistent with their faith, but detailed studies specifically linking plastic use and environmental attitudes in the Haredi community are limited or absent.

1. The Haredi community's growth in Israel could potentially drive changes in magazine articles, focusing on environmental impact and sustainable practices.
2. The community's limited technology use may not only contribute to their sustainable lifestyle but also impact the climate-change discourse in educational-and-self-development literature.
3. The Haredi community's approach to cultural matters could inform art pieces and exhibitions centered around climate-change and environmental-science themes.
4. The impact of the Haredi community's plastic use on climate-change could be a topic for scientific research in environmental-science journals.
5. The migration patterns within the Haredi community, due to urban density and family sizes, could spark discussions in policy-and-legislation forums about housing and infrastructure.
6. The community's unique approach to mindfulness during Shabbat might inspire self-help books focusing on personal-growth and spiritual connection.
7. The ongoing debate about plastic use in the Haredi community could have implications for job-search proceedings in the sectors of nonprofit and climate-change advocacy.
8. As the Haredi community grows, the increasing demand for online-education platforms could allow for expanded learning opportunities in environmental-science and climate-change.
9. The opposition to the single-use plastic tax in the Haredi community could be analyzed in crime-and-justice case studies, examining the interplay between politics and faith-based communities.
10. News outlets may cover the impact of car-accidents and the community's urban density on general-news platforms.
11. Fire incidents resulting from the community's plastic waste could become a concern for fire safety and prevention training courses, furthering skills-training in that area.
12. The growing recognition of environmental responsibility within certain sectors of the Haredi community could drive career-development opportunities for advocates in environmental-science and climate-change.
13. Policy-and-legislation changes regarding plastic use in the Haredi community could impact labor market structures and the job-search process in related industries.
14. Learning about the Haredi community's environmental attitudes and plastic use could help job seekers in the fields of climate-change policy and environmental journalism.
15. The Haredi community's reaction to environmental campaigns could influence advertising strategies for brands promoting eco-friendly products in the sports industry.
16. The dialogue fostered with rabbis on environmental responsibility might lead to partnerships between sports teams, such as NFL or NCAA Football, and environmental organizations.
17. Sports-betting platforms could also incorporate environmental causes into their promotional strategies given the growing interest in corporate social responsibility, highlighting sustainable practices in NFL or NCAA Football.

Read also: