Social Security in Israel

I SRAEL’S first social security measure designed to cover more than a single risk was enacted on November 18, 1953, and became effective April 1, 1954. It provides benefits to the aged and to widows and orphans, maternity benefits, and benefits for work accidents. The provision of work accident and maternity benefits represents the improvement of existing programs and their consolidation into a single social insurance act. The chief new program established by the 1953 law is oldage and survivors insurance. The history and content of this social insurance law reveal a blend of local mutual aid society practice with workers’ protective legislation under the British mandate, plus the incorporation of other social insurance principles common to many recent plans and modern laws. It is the purpose of this article to trace this unique combination of influences to their issue in the 1953 law and to show the setting of the act within the varied welfare services of the State of Israel.