The challenges facing Yotzim – those who leave ultra-Orthodox communities – have become increasingly important economic, security and social issues impacting Israeli society, the head of Israel’s leading nonprofit organization supporting Yotzim said last week in Brookline.

Nadev Rozenblat, executive director of Out for Change told congregants at Temple Kehillath Israel’s weekly Shabbat dinner about the serious emotional, social and financial issues Yotzim face when they leave the highly insular Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) communities in Israel.

In an interview prior to his talk, Rozenblat praised the “strong bond between Boston’s Jewish community, as it demonstrated by the impressive mobilization over the past year. It was truly inspiring.”

Some 3,500 people – mostly young adults – left their tight-knit Haredi communities last year, “often estranged from their families and traditional support systems, and with little money, secular education or social skills,” he said.

Some 27 percent of Yotzim, whom Rozenblat called “the new pioneers,” reported that they were totally estranged from their families in the first year of leaving their community. The percentage dropped to 11 percent after three years.

A study funded by Out for Change found that 85 percent of the respondents said they received no financial support from their families after leaving, primarily because of financial difficulties and their decision to exit their communities.

“Their challenges are enormous, but successfully integrating the increasing number of Yotzim is critically important for them and to Israeli society,” Rozenblat said.

“Israel society needs more productive citizens,” he said. “Yotzim left a non-productive community and are contributing to national missions and the shared burden. They enlist in the IDF at much higher rates than their Haredi peers and pay significantly more taxes than their Haredi counterparts.

“Government officials have long pointed out that Israel cannot survive without integrating the Haredim into Israeli society.”

“The State of Israel invests hundreds of millions of shekels annually in programs aimed at educating and integrating Haredim because unless they can provide for their own families and pay taxes, we cannot prosper as a country.

“Most Yotzim want to be part of the Zionist dream, change their life, get an education, join the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) and get a good job, but they don’t get the support they need from their families or the government,” he said.

An Out for Change research study found that “a quest for freedom and individualism” was a significant motivating factor for those leaving Haredi society. The study said that many Yotzim are attracted by the opportunity to express themselves creatively in dance, sports, music and other forms of individualistic expression.

Rozenblat stressed that the increasing number of Yotzim is “not an anti-religious phenomenon.” He said research showed that more than 60 percent remain religious.

Supporting Yotzim in their quest to successfully integrate into Israeli society was the primary charge of Out for Change when it was founded in 2013 by former Haredim. In the past year, the organization has worked with some 1,300 Yotzim, in their efforts to successfully integrate them into Israeli society.

Out for Change programs include providing individual counseling as well as personalized guidance in the areas of higher education, military service, employment, life skills and legal advice.

Rozenblat said the organization successfully lobbied Israel’s Council for Education to support programs specifically for former Haredim. As a result, Hebrew University and The Technion that are offering preparatory programs and scholarships for Yotzim.

Out for Change operates community centers in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and in Boston’s sister city of Haifa, which offer opportunities for Yotzim to gather and support each other, including Shabbat dinners, courses, cultural events and movie nights.

The talk at Kehillath Israel was part of the Temple’s speaker series, which often feature Israeli leaders who are visiting Boston and Israeli graduate students attending Harvard’s Kennedy School of government. Θ