Home and away: volunteering among ultra-Orthodox men in Israel

Asaf Malchi, Guy Ben-Porat

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Religious minority groups often enjoy strong support systems and high levels of trust, providing for volunteering within the community, but under what conditions are members of these groups likely to volunteer outside their community? Or, would they prefer the security, intimacy and commitment to their own communities. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach: To answer this question, the authors examine the motivations of ultra-Orthodox young men who volunteered for National Civil Service in Israel, and compare the choices of volunteer frameworks: separatist-religious volunteering within the community compared to volunteering in secular institutions outside the community. Findings: The authors associate the interest and motivations with different types of social capital, “bonding” and “bridging.” Research limitations/implications: Research based on one case study. Practical implications: Guidelines for encouraging volunteering among closed groups. Social implications: Understanding of motivations and concerns among religious groups. Originality/value: An original study of a relatively new phenomenon.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)411-425
Number of pages15
JournalInternational Journal of Sociology and Social Policy
Volume38
Issue number5-6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2018

Keywords

  • Israel
  • Religion
  • Social capital
  • Volunteering

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Sociology and Political Science
  • General Economics, Econometrics and Finance

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