Large Rise in Numbers of Adult Israelis Studying in Torah Academies

Jerusalem, 24 August, 2025 (TPS-IL) — In the 2022/23 academic year, approximately 146,300 students aged 18-66 studied in yeshivas – Torah institutions.

These students comprised approximately 3.8% of the Jewish population aged 18-66, compared to 3% in the 2016/17 school year.

Of all male students aged 18-66 studying in Torah institutions, approximately 66.6% studied in a kollel – a school for adult married men.

Of all students who studied in Torah institutions, approximately 73,900 were between the ages of 18 and 26 (approximately 50%). Of these, approximately 43.2% studied in a higher level yeshiva.

Of the local authorities with 20,000 or more residents, the highest percentages of men aged 18-66 studying in Torah institutions were in Modi’in Illit and Bnei Brak (63.6% and 49.9% of the Jewish population in these ages in each of the towns, respectively). Both are ultra-orthodox cities.

In Lod, there was a significant increase in the rate of students studying in Torah institutions – from 1.3% in 2017 to 8.4% in 2023.