For the 1st Time, Religious 1st-Graders in Israel Outnumber Secular Ones by Thousands

[Ghoti Ichthus]

For the 1st time, religious 1st-graders in Israel outnumber secular ones by thousands​

Education Ministry data also shows 5,000 fewer children are enrolled in secular schools in the upcoming year compared to 2023; experts warn of implications for broader society​

By Rossella Tercatin
31 August 2025, 11:51 pm

"Israeli children who will begin school and kindergarten on September 1 pose for a picture in Moshav Yashresh on August 27, 2025. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
For the first time in Israel’s history, this year thousands more children will begin first grade in religious Jewish schools than in secular ones, according to data the Education Ministry provided to The Times of Israel, in a change that experts say could be a harbinger of a large-scale shift in society.
Additionally, the data shows that the number of first-graders in secular schools has declined for the second consecutive year, with 5,000 fewer incoming elementary school students than in September 2023, also marking an unprecedented occurrence.
Experts who spoke with The Times of Israel cautioned that data from individual years should be viewed with caution, as unique factors can influence them. Still, they acknowledged that these developments mark a dramatic shift compared to the traditional social makeup of the country.

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For the 1st time, religious 1st-graders in Israel outnumber secular ones by thousands

Education Ministry data also shows 5,000 fewer children are enrolled in secular schools in the upcoming year compared to 2023; experts warn of implications for broader society

www.timesofisrael.com

 

[dwb]

That certainly can't hurt. Regardless of the "diversity is our strength" folks, diversity means differences, and differences cause conflicts. If you look at the conflicts around the world today, most are caused by conflicts due to opposing cultures in the same geographic areas. Common sense just tells you that the more people who live together have in common the less problems they have.

 

[Margery]

For the 1st time, religious 1st-graders in Israel outnumber secular ones by thousands​

Education Ministry data also shows 5,000 fewer children are enrolled in secular schools in the upcoming year compared to 2023; experts warn of implications for broader society​

By Rossella Tercatin
31 August 2025, 11:51 pm

"Israeli children who will begin school and kindergarten on September 1 pose for a picture in Moshav Yashresh on August 27, 2025. (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
For the first time in Israel’s history, this year thousands more children will begin first grade in religious Jewish schools than in secular ones, according to data the Education Ministry provided to The Times of Israel, in a change that experts say could be a harbinger of a large-scale shift in society.
Additionally, the data shows that the number of first-graders in secular schools has declined for the second consecutive year, with 5,000 fewer incoming elementary school students than in September 2023, also marking an unprecedented occurrence.
Experts who spoke with The Times of Israel cautioned that data from individual years should be viewed with caution, as unique factors can influence them. Still, they acknowledged that these developments mark a dramatic shift compared to the traditional social makeup of the country.

More

For the 1st time, religious 1st-graders in Israel outnumber secular ones by thousands

Education Ministry data also shows 5,000 fewer children are enrolled in secular schools in the upcoming year compared to 2023; experts warn of implications for broader society

www.timesofisrael.com

God bless them! Precious gifts from God, and may they grow up to know their Messiah and ours and enter the Messianic kingdom!

 

[Baby Yoda]