In a dramatic change in strategy, the IDF is preparing to send draft notices to 3000 young charedim who are working and receiving salaries despite lying and declaring that Toratam Umanutam (i.e. they are solely involved in Torah study).
This is the first time that the IDF is attempting to conscript charedim, since most of the previous soldiers who enlisted from charedi backgrounds were at-risk youth or those who had ceased to maintain religious practices. The current target group are those who are working in tandem with their yeshiva studies or instead of studying in yeshiva, and who are receiving official salaries according to the National Insurance Institute.
The charedi parties are maintaining silence at present, since they have not yet received instructions from the gedolim on how to react if thousands of draft notices are submitted to charedim.
Some members of Agudas Yisrael believe that if draft notices are sent, the charedi parties should create a coalition crisis and even topple the government.
“The IDF had never demanded the conscription of thousands of charedim in a few months, next year they want 5000 more, how can we accept this?” one Aguda MK questioned.
“We already know that in the current coalition we won’t be able to pass an acceptable law to regulate the status of Torah learners, so what are we waiting for? We need to get answers from the gedolim.”
Shas MKs also didn’t respond, preferring to wait for the gedolim to decide. One of them said that “We heard a clear ruling from the head of the Sephardi council of Torah sages Rabbi Moshe Maya, who said that it is forbidden to conscript even those charedim who aren’t learning and they shouldn’t show up at the base. The rabbi stressed this in the past, we are now waiting for his decision on the matter.”
In a recorded discussion of the matter, Rabbi Maya stressed that even those not studying should not enlist: “Even if you have no framework [don’t go], you will become secular there, it is a shmad- a coercion to leave religion. One who causes to sin is greater than one who kills others, this is clear.”.
Rabbi Shlomo Machfoud, another member of the council said that “We must fight this with all our power, as it will lead to a spiritual holocaust like they did to us when we immigrated to this country. They used to tempt us in different ways and now they come with this- another way to cause sweet bachurim to abandon their faith.”
Rabbi Machfoud warned all charedim who had studied in yeshiva- even those who have left – not to agree to be drafted to the IDF.
8 comments:
You're obsessed
What's your opinion by the way on the Amish & Mennonites not shtelling tzu to the US Military draft in WWII?
What is Nachal Charedi?
Who serves there? it seems regular kids not ones that ceased to observe religious practices? Why can't charedim serve there if it was created solely for charedim?
Nachal "Charedi" is NOT regular frum kids!
The US Army didn't need a few thousand Mennonites. The Israel needs several thousand more soldiers right now.
Israel gives 40,000 piturs every year to secular youth, mostly from Tel Aviv area. Why are those people not being drafted?
The Amish accept NO services or funding from the government, and they are a tiny minority. Mennonites and other types of genuine conscientious objectors generally serve as medics, often in combat. I had a Quaker professor in college who spent tie in a federal prison because he refused to serve in the Vietnam War.
You think DIN is obsessed? Just wait. You are going to see a huge movement of returning combat soldiers and their spouses and families who will not let this issue rest.
After wars, big changes and realignments happen, and this will be no exemption. Haredim will no longer be the tie-breakers for coalitions, AND there will be lots of budget cuts to pay for the war. Medical and rehabilitative care for soldiers, benefits for orphans, rebuilding homes, replenishing arms, etc.
Obsessed? You ain't seen nothing yet.
In addition to Netzach Yisrael, there is ALREADY a haredi hesder yeshiva. Change is coming this time.
So? That's a bad thing. And when you keep bringing that up, it sounds like you think the haredi communities should copy the worst of the decadent chilonim. The vast majority of secular Israelis serve, and would feel ashamed of shirking. There have been plenty of soldiers from Tel Aviv killed in this war too.
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