A Financial Education Program for Future Bridegrooms in Ultra-Orthodox Yeshivas: The Graduate’s Perspective

Abstract

The Israeli ultra-Orthodox community is a segregated religious minority suffering from poverty, yet its youth do not receive financial education. This mixed-method research explores the effectiveness of a financial education program for affianced ultra-Orthodox men. 11 interviewees answered qualitative questionnaires, and 201 program graduates evaluated program effectiveness, financial conduct, and demographics, compared to 36 control-group participants. Qualitative results emphasize the program’s importance for yeshiva students. Quantitative results demonstrate better savings behavior and more consultation willingness of graduates. Culturally-sensitive programming can lead to improved financial conduct; therefore, governmental investment is essential for Israeli economic welfare and for the ultra-Orthodox community.

Keywords:

• Ultra-orthodox
• financial education
• poverty
• yeshiva
• JDC

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anat Barth

Anat Barth, Ph.D. lecturer in the schools’ organization and administration master program in Michlala Jerusalem. Her main research domains are education, employment, and family in the ultra-Orthodox community.

Itschak Trachtengot

Itschak Trachtengot, Ph.D. Researcher in the Department of Psychology in Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and lecturer in Psychology at the Herzog college and Jerusalem college. His major areas of research are acculturation and the psychological aspects of cultural, ethnic, and national identities. His studies examine aspects of behavioral change among minorities and their ability to combine identities and the different aspects that multicultural life.