An October study by the Taub Center revealed that Israel is one of the great anomalies in the
developed world when it comes to poverty among the elderly.
Taub Center Executive Director Dan Ben-David said: “The case of poverty among the elderly
— those 65 years old and over who are at or above what is generally still considered retirement age in most countries — provides what is perhaps the most striking illustration of the ineffectiveness
of Israeli tax and welfare programs in reducing poverty. The problem of market income poverty
among the elderly is considerably less in Israel than in the rest of the developed world, but once each country’s social welfare safety net takes effect, then the situation simply reverses, with
disposable income poverty among Israel’s elderly rising to the top of the developed world.”
Despite the relatively large elderly populations in the other countries, the assistance provided to the elderly is substantially more effective in reducing poverty elsewhere than it is in Israel.
The inclusion or exclusion of Haredim and Arab Israelis does not affect the market income poverty rate or its rate of decline.
To learn ways you can help those in need in Israel, visit jdc.org or jewishagency.org, both partners of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore.
— JT Staff Report
