Promoting a Culturally Adapted Policy to Deal with the COVID-19 Crisis in the Haredi Population in Israel

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Policy

Background:

• COVID-19 disproportionately affected the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jewish population in Israel, leading to high morbidity and mortality.
• Distinctive cultural, lifestyle, and demographic factors within the Haredi community may have contributed to increased vulnerability to the pandemic.

Approach:

• The Israeli Ministry of Health (MoH) implemented a targeted strategy in collaboration with Haredi leadership and community members.
• The initiative focused on building mutual trust to enhance adherence to government health regulations and recommendations.
• This case study involved a review of government documents, statistics, and insights from MoH leaders involved in the initiative.

Key Points:

• The MoH's strategy emphasized community engagement and tailored policies for the Haredi population.
• Building trust was crucial for improving the quality of care and preventing illness within this group.
• The initiative sought to increase compliance with public health measures through cooperative efforts.

Conclusions:

• The study assesses the success of the MoH's initiative in mitigating COVID-19's impact on the Haredi community.
• Lessons learned offer insights for addressing health disparities in other religious, minority, or closed communities in Israel and globally.