The Work of a Lifetime: One Man's View of Social Welfare in Israel, Past and Present

Authors

  • Ruben Schindler Ashkelon College, Ashkelon, Israel

Abstract

Meeting common human needs is a nation's obligation to its citizens. But ways to meet those needs are often debated fiom diverse ideological visions. Such was the case of Israel in its emergence to statehood. The work ethic was elevated to a value of the highest order and thus, assistance to the indigent was disapproved. From the author's perspective, this approach countered the principles of Jewish ethics, embedded in the writings of the prophets and the Talmud. In time however, progressive social welfare policies were introduced in Israel, as refiected in universal services. Mass immigration, severe economic strains, and health concerns justified the need for these services. In addition, social work practice was given legitimacy in the creation of university and four year college programs to train cadres of social workers. Today these social workers are making inroads in helping a variety of client populations in urban and rural areas.

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How to Cite

Schindler, R. (2014). The Work of a Lifetime: One Man’s View of Social Welfare in Israel, Past and Present. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 17(4), 95–103. Retrieved from https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/view/677

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