Begging in Israel: An exploratory study

This article'represents an exploratory study of the widespread phenomenon of begging and the personal characteristics, career development, and attitudes of beggars in Israel. The study indicates the deep roots of the Jewish religious cultural tradition of charity. Begging and beggars have a somewhat more positive public image than that found in most other industrial societies. This in turn reflects on the beggar's self‐concept, which is less negative than in many other societies. Begging in Israel is influenced and exacerbated by the dislocating effects of immigration. Beggars tend to have a low education and usually possess inadequate professional skills that do not fit the modern economic structure. They tend to define and relate to their involvement in begging as work.