Transfer the monies that go to the non working haredim and yeshiva students to care for the old ans infirm.Interesting to hear what the rabbi would have to say about this proposal.

do what we do in the us, each relative is responsible for their own relatives not the federal gov. this is a problem for the people to solve, also people need to start saving for their retirement in advance

#1: I agree. #2: Ideally you are right. It is the responsibility of children and families to care for their elderly parents. In the event children are not responsible or able to care for their parents (I suspect it is more often the former rather than the later), I do not begrudge tax-payer money helping those who cannot help themselves.

families can barely take care of themselves! Israelis live in overdraft, its the way of life there! between supporting their grownup kids that are in the army and make pennies there, and paying high rates on almost everything;gas, mortage, cars, electronics! they elderly figuratively have to hit rock bottom, and collect recycled cans and bottles to survive! F.Y.I what do you think happens when there are no more poor people for the rich to take money from? The rich go after the middle class!! the middle class become the new poor! In israel, there is no middle class! there was once, but now they have become the poor! Israel is small, america is big! the middle class in the U.S. is just starting to feel it (see. fiscal cliff) and as for saving for retirement, why don't you try putting some internal organs on the side for retirement! lets see how long you survive to even reach retirement!!!point is, Israeli's have no money to put on the side! because if you do, and do not pay your bills, the interest will finish you! no offence buddy!

It is an absolute crime that we fund a whole segment of society of young, able bodied people (the Hareidim), while these former tax-payers are left to rot.

First the description you give as to how its done in America is not only false but shows a high degree of unsympathetic rationale. First of all only families with money can help their poor relatives. If what you say was true then how do you explain the large number of homeless people in the USA? Have you ever looked at what is going on in just about every large city in America?

Wjow..such hatred ..... I don't think that even here they hate the Jews as u hate the Haredim...

Dont confuse Jews with Haredim. Israeli Jews work hard, pay taxes and serve in the army. The haredim dont, Do you think this is normal ? Does the government of Belgium allow their haredim to live free of charge on the account of their regular citizens. We here dont hate, but we are fed up with forever working to support these shirkers.

Do u actually have any real and concrete answers to these talk backs. Step forward if you do, shut up forever if you dont .

Well said, Philip.

That is not good policy. There will be people who do not have family members to take care of them, in such cases the government should step in. Most cases children can step in and provide for their parents but their will be people who cannot or will not. Retirement saving is important but government should make mandatory such savings.

The fact is Israeli's earn much less than the counterparts abroad. Its not because of wars or anything else that governments on the right or left can be held responsible for its just always been that way. Possibly it has something to do with the marxist past where big state owned companies were the main employers and nobody ever got rich working for the state so everybody was poor. It just didn't change much when the private sector became the main employers, probably because by that time companies didn't need to substantially increase salaries because if your poor already then anything is a bonus but it just highlighted more that problem that had always been there. Employers can only be obligated to pay minimum wage and if we increase minimum wage to much if they feel its more economical companies will lay people off and in a computer age that gets easier than ever. Considering this is the system its always been and in an age of global commerce competition is essential and companies pay people more they become less competitive so it may well be we left it to late and no matter how much we shout social justice its a problem that can't be solved just whitewashed make it look like governments are fixing the problem.

The economy is not working for the people. This happens when leaders are busy fighting wars. People get the government they vote for.Put people who will be less interested in fighting wars and more in governing. Interest is not good it is forbidden to collect it and Jews have to pay interest . Government does not observe Torah law.

There ought be a voluntary Future Fund learning from Buffet and Gates from these wealthy Jews who give not enough to Amcha.The Shmita Year and Yoval demand Redistribution on a huge scale for money is ammunition for rescue in Judaism and Rescue of All.

This happens in any country. Canada is no different. We think we care for the elderly, but in most cases we don't including Canada. Israel in most cases does better in caring for the elderly and society than other nations. #2. You need a reality check. saving for retirement is not a luxury everyon can afford. So you fix the problem. the article mentions fellowship of christians & jews. Thanks to GOD for the this organization and Rabbi Eckstein. M

His organizations raises alot of money in Canada & the US. His is speaks on many North American broadcast. Maybe you should do your own re-search instead of criticizing a man you never met.

worked here or worked at all needing pensions, medical services and utilities. As long as we keep bringing in people that are elderly or letting generations of non workers receive money from the state, we will never have enough for retired pensioners. The same goes for over paid utility and municipal workers. We are taxed so they can have salaries and benefits the rest of us dream about. We pay more for utilities and their workers have big salaries and other perks. Finally the National Insurance Institute discriminates against widowers. A widow receives monthly payments till she remarries or dies. A widower till his children enter the army. I know of widows that received money for decades. I ,as a widower lost them when my youngest was drafted.

Subsidizing non-working able-bodied haredim coupled with billions of shekels per year subsidizing the settlers (tax breaks, defense costs) takes billions of shekels away from the elderly, disabled, education. Full stop.

As an Israeli living in the usa for over 30 years, and being employed by a medicare program for the seniors, I have a tremendous appreciation for the way the US medicare programs institutes its programs for the senior population. The array of programs that assist them with their daily needs such as electricity. telephone, food, medicine distribution and many outrech programs. These are just a small amount of programs that are available for the poor. I visit Israel frequenly and have family memebers that have expressed their need for additional assistance for their daily comfort to no avail. Israelis seem to be on a roller coaster ride trying to reach for something that is unobtainable, all materialistic and no concern for anything other. Its time for the younger generation to awake and be forthcoming to this terrible issue that is plaging the poor elderly of Israel.

same here in the uk we have become a burden and liabilty , and the goverment want rid of us

Whilst I don't dispute any of the other information in your articles, I find the idea of heating one's home to 24 degrees questionable - both from a health and environmental point of view. We set the temperature at 20 degrees, at which level the thermostat frequently cuts in. My husband is 81 and I am 74 and neither of us is cold in our home.

This is a real situation, and it must be death with now. Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein is person of above-average intelligence. He would concur that Torah observance in how we treat each other is the wise path. This includes taking care of the poor, not charging interest on loans to fellow Jews, paying labors daily...etc. The Israeli leadership must pass Torah observant laws which apply HaShem's wisdom to the Israeli society.

And maybe under these laws the haredim would be obliged to work and do their share in the armed forces, and stop being such a burden on the Israeli economy.

You are looking at the least successful of the major religions in the world: always hunted, oppressed, criticized. Over the centuries Judaism was improved into "better" religions which succeeded by attracting great numbers of adherents. You are looking into a religion which is being abandoned.

O how much I love those Jews living in the West and giving suggestions and never lived in Israel Toy our knowledge Rose there no thermostat in average Israeli home because there is no central heating and the floors are tiles who keep the house even cooler and the buildings are not insulated