Take that from someone that was about as secular as a Jew could be, who realized after first chatting with, then talking with and then studying with a remarkable man who I am proud to say is my Rabbi. He brought me back spiritually.
Did they plant orchards, begin kibbutzim, and fight and die in the Wars? They sure did...but they also learned and taught me what it is to be a Jew.
Of my 6 sons, only one still learns in kollel part time while working as a teacher. Another, decided he wasn't cut out for learning, has finished his IDF tour and is now working at a construction job, doing a job "Israelis don't want to do." And guess what, he is Haredi, though you would never think so from all the stereotyping.
Oh and speaking of stereotypes, even though he lives next door to a gay club and has been propositioned thousands of times by stupid deviants, he has never stabbed a gay or even punched one, in spite of being repeatedly provoked (I won't say he has never used cuss words).