The Internet has penetrated deeply into the Israeli haredi community despite rulings by some of their leading rabbis against its use, according to research conducted by a husband-and-wife team of Israelis now working at the University of Washington, who studied Internet use of 14,000 haredim.

Haredim are well known for not sharing information with outsiders, but the UW researchers were able to draw upon an unusually large and reliable source: an Israeli online service called Hevre, which allowed them to examine use patterns among its 686,000 customers.

Asked to comment, Jerusalem haredi journalist and Bakehilla publisher Dudi Zilbershlag said that in a few years, it will be impossible for anyone, including haredim, to manage without an Internet connection. "One won't be able to pay bills without it. It will be like the phone today, and an educational tool.