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Learning to code when you've spent your life studying religious texts

Can you be part of the fast-paced, secular world of technology and startups if you're from a conservative religious community? One group who haven't traditionally been involved in the flourishing technology sector are ultra-Orthodox Jews, known as Haredim. They often live apart from mainstream Israeli society and adhere to strict religious laws covering everything from diet to dress and technology. But in recent years, the ultra-orthodox have been increasingly joining the high-tech world, working in big international tech companies and founding their own startups. David Baker travels to Israel to meet the new breed of high tech Haredim, and find out how they reconcile taking part in the "Startup Nation" with traditional Torah life.

First broadcast on Crossing Continents, 8 September 2016.

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5 minutes

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