Family life in Israel: the challenge for social work

TLDR: The Shalshelet approach was established in an attempt to show that the reversal can, to some extent, be achieved as discussed by the authors, and some of the social and economic issues that underpinned the Shalashlet approach are described elsewhere (Krausz, 1985).

Abstract: Family life Leo Davids (1983) has pointed out that traditional, cohesive family values are still stronger in Israel than in the West and that divorce, low fertility and social malfunctioning are not characteristic of Israeli families. He states, however, that his research shows a rapid movement towards Western instability in family life that will probably continue ’unless these trends rapidly reverse themselves’. Shalshelet was established in an attempt to show that the reversal can, to some extent, be achieved. Several of the social and economic issues that underpinned the Shalshelet approach are described elsewhere (Krausz, 1985) and some of them will now be explored in greater detail. The current situation in Israel, as described by Abraham Doron (1985), shows that the country has made substantial welfare achievements in health, education, housing and the personal social services. Health services are available on a system similar to that which guided the formation of Britain’s National Health Service, although they are not anchored in law. As an earlier survey showed (Krausz, 1977), health and social services are plentiful but fragmented. Although intended for ’families’, they cater mainly for mothers and young children up to the age of 3. Doron (1985) states that, although ’a wide variety of personal services cater for individuals and families many of these programmes still provide limited benefits, and services are restricted to underprivileged population groups’. These are usually available only in a crisis situation. It is rare for men to receive health and welfare services unless in the army, where they receive free dental treatment (which is not