Labor Ministry cancels job fair for Haredim due to restriction on gender segregation — and denies

The Ministry of Labor canceled a large job and study fair intended for young Haredim, which was scheduled to take place on August 31, about 20 days before the date. The official reason: election period restrictions. However, an internal email from the director of the Haredi employment division suggests that legal counsel limited the fair also due to gender segregation. The ministry denies that segregation was a factor.

The Ministry of Labor canceled a large job and study fair intended for young Haredim, which was scheduled to take place on August 31, 2026. The event, organized in collaboration with the Spotlight program of the "Aluma" association, aimed to attract thousands of young Haredim to academic studies and integration into the workforce. About 20 days before the date, the ministry announced its cancellation. The ministry's spokesperson stated that the reason was legal restrictions during the election period. However, an email circulated by the director of the Haredi employment division at the ministry indicated that legal counsel limited the fair also due to it being gender-segregated. Organizers from the association expressed disappointment, claiming that many resources went to waste. In contrast, the Ministry of Labor's spokesperson strongly denied that gender segregation was a consideration, emphasizing that it was solely a question of timing and that the fair would be postponed until after the elections. The issue once again highlights the tension between the desire to integrate Haredim into the workforce and the legal and social restrictions surrounding gender segregation in the public sphere.