Surrender: Government Proposal Would Effectively Exempt Haredim From Military Draft

Proposal would free haredim from national service and would allow them to legally join the workforce rather than rely on yeshiva student exemptions earned by studying in yeshivas for most of their adult lives.

Treasury proposes exempting Haredim from IDF draft at 22

Though the IDF has several programs designed for Haredi men, few yeshiva students are foolish enough to abandon their studies to join the army.

By Meirav Arlosoroff • Ha'aretz

The battle over drafting Haredi men has begun again, eight years after the Tal Law exempted them from army service for as long as they study at yeshivas.

Two weeks ago, at a stormy meeting held in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz proposed changing the Tal Law to allow ultra-Orthodox men to join the workforce. Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and other senior IDF brass objected vehemently. The discussion will continue soon, though the consensus among senior officials is that some change to the Tal Law is necessary and unavoidable.

Steinitz's proposal is to allow any man with two, three or more children, regardless of whether he is ultra-Orthodox, to choose not to serve in the military and be allowed to work. In addition, the proposal states that anyone else who has not served in the army by age 22 would be allowed to perform one year of civilian national service and then be excused completely from the draft. People 24 years old and up who never served would be exempt from national service and be allowed to work.

As a whole, the treasury's policy would be that anyone who has not been drafted would be exempted from military service. This would apply regardless of the reason for the exemption, and regardless of the person's religious affiliation and whether the person is a new immigrant. The Finance Ministry says the current situation is problematic, since the IDF neither drafts Haredim nor is interested in doing so, yet does not exempt them from service and prevents them from working legally until age 30. The treasury says Israeli society is being punished by having to support these yeshiva students since they cannot work.

There are currently 55,000 ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students studying full-time, who have received draft exemptions due to their studies; therefore, they are not allowed to work. The treasury says the country loses out in three ways: It pays allowances for these students; the GDP is smaller because the workforce is smaller; and funds are misallocated from where they are needed most.

There are several IDF frameworks for Haredim who want to serve, but not many choose to do so. The IDF says this is because they need more funds, since these units have special requirements. The treasury argues that this is not the problem, and that the army does not actually want to draft the Haredim, in order to avoid problems.

The IDF objects to the treasury's proposal, saying that granting exemptions at a young age, such as 22, would increase inequality and allow Haredim to avoid serving with little or no penalty. Netanyahu has yet to state his position, though he is thought to be leaning toward the treasury's side - but political complications may make it difficult to pass such changes in the cabinet and the Knesset.

Comments

[harold]

Absolutely brilliant. They are reading the writing on the wall. I said a while ago "under no circumstance should the govt not allow any person not to work." This absurd restriction created the situation where so many to avoid the draft did not work (because they were not allowed to) and then these same people wound up being eligible to get free govt money - wacky! What is being done now is to right that wrong.

I am glad to see that creative thinking is coming to play. I always knew this would happen the question only was how and when.

[who knows?]

Harold, don't you see that Haredim are destroying Judaism? Don't you see that by leeching they are showing that Judaism is parasitical? Don't you see what a tremedous hillul Hashem Haredizm is?

How any decent person can support Haredizm is beyond me.

[Maskil]

One should note, the law will be completely equal to the citizens of Israel (except those registered as "Muslims" for whom the law will truly be unfair and service completely optional). It will not give preference to educational background or any decision made by the individual's parents that have affected his position when exemption is being considered.

There are several IDF frameworks for Haredim who want to serve, but not many choose to do so.

Only a select few are given the opportunity to be part of these groups. It is very sectarian and nothing is being done to stop this. Many 18 year old Haredim try to apply for military service and are turned away because they are not wanted in the army. No one in their community will help them advocate for themselves and even those who have sought the assistance of social workers, the so called "social workers" are completely ignorant of how one joins one of these "frameworks." I know many who were turned away from the recruitment office, and very few who even got passed that step and had a file opened on their name but were turned away in the interview process. These "frameworks" are a carefully structured farce designed by the Haredim as well as the military establishment as a token gesture by means of which they can exclude Haredi enlistment by those who are not a part of this production.

The IDF says this is because they need more funds, since these units have special requirements. The treasury argues that this is not the problem, and that the army does not actually want to draft the Haredim, in order to avoid problems.

Only here is the truth expressed in real terms. While the law may be written in a form equal to all (Jewish) citizens, the establishment has an interest in keeping the Haredim out of the army - permanently.

[David]

What difference would exempting them from the draft and allowing them to join the workforce make?

1) They refuse to do military service in any case.
2) They refuse to work in any case. I very much doubt that removing the restriction on them working (in the event that they refuse to do military service) will make any difference because they won't work at any age.

They rely on hardworking military conscripts and taxpayers to support their parasitic lifestyle.

One sure way to make them work is to remove their welfare benefits.

[harold]

Harold, don't you see that Haredim are destroying Judaism? Don't you see that by leeching they are showing that Judaism is parasitical? Don't you see what a tremedous hillul Hashem Haredizm is?

I live here in the 5 Towns of Long Island. Lots of Haredim around and I see them thriving, caring, and no chillul hasem here.

In fact today was a day where here in the 5 towns was a major blood drive and a community wide testing to find a match for boy newly diagnosed with leukemia.

Here is an email that I received ->

---------------------------------------------------

Zack Englander, a local resident in the 5 Towns, is twenty years old and was recently diagnosed with leukemia. He is in need of a bone marrow transplant and we can use your help. Since tissue type is inherited, Zack's best chance of finding a genetically matched donor lies with those of Jewish ancestry. It takes just 30 seconds to swab the inside of your cheek. YOU can make a difference for Zack and other potential recipients.
A drive to test for a match will take place this Sunday, May 30th – see locations below and/or click http://www.giftoflife.org/dc/Match4Zack/blog.aspx for details.

The testing locations are:
HAFTR High School
635 Central Avenue
Cedarhurst, NY 11516
9am to 5pm

Yeshiva Sh’or Yoshuv
1 Cedarlawn Avenue
Lawrence, NY 11559
9am to 5pm

Eligible donors must be between the ages of 18-60 and in general good health. If you have been tested after 2001, you do not need to be retested.

In addition, since the cost to process each test is $54 “ all donations are welcome”. Please go to http://www.giftoflife.org/dc/Match4Zack/blog.aspx and visit our donor circle.

As I said, no chillul hashem here.

[Bill]

"no hillul hashem here" - Harold

Harold, Don't be too sure of yourself. Nobody, including me, would like to get caught in the "wrong" side of a "save a child with leukemia" debate, so let's start with questions of fact and science. 1. Your article says that "Zack's best chance of finding a genetically matched doner lies with those of Jewish ancestry." There is no such thing as a "Jewish ancestry" genetic lineage. There are Jews of Ashkenazi descent, and that's, for example, a scientifically accepted specific genetic lineage. But to solicit samples from all people of Jewish descent under the pretext that they would all be, statistcally speaking, better matches is both wasteful and misleading.

2. Who regulates these charities which collect both cheek
swabs and monitary donations? we've seen Orthodox Jews charged with organ trafficking in the United States. It would be no shock to me to learn that these people are exploiting children with leukemia too.

[harold]

It would be no shock to me to learn that these people are exploiting children with leukemia too.

Wow, FailedMessianites never cease to amaze me!

It is obvious that you did not follow the links, check out

http://www.giftoflife.org/Pages/Accreditations-Licenses.aspx
https://www.giftoflife.org/Public/Online/DonorCircles.aspx

Accreditations & Licenses
Gift of Life strives to provide the highest quality services possible in the advancement of its mission. Below is a list of Gift of Life’s industry accreditations, state licenses and federal registration.
World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA)
Gift of Life's Registry is accredited by the World Marrow Donor Association. Read more...

National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)
Gift of Life’s Marrow Donor Program and Cord Blood Program are both accredited by the National Marrow Donor Program. Read more...

New York State Department of Health
Gift of Life’s Marrow Donor Program and Cord Blood Program are both licensed by the New York State Department of Health.
American Association of Blood Banks (AABB)
The Gift of Life Cord Blood Program is a partnership between Gift of Life and the UMass Memorial Medical Center . The stem cell cryopreservation lab where the “Gift of Life Cord Blood Program at UMass” ( Worcester, MA ) is located, is accredited by the AABB. Read More...

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Gift of Life is registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the activities it performs recruiting bone marrow / blood stem cell donors and mothers who donate cord blood.
For further information, please contact Gift of Life’s Quality Assurance / Regulatory Compliance Department at 561.982.2900

[Maskil]

Bill has an interesting point. Palestinian and Jordanian Arabs are in a unique genetic group with Ashkenazi Jewry and are genetically closer matches than any of the edot ha-mizrah

[Bill]

harold,

So whom should I write to, to complain that "Jewish ancensty" is a biologically meaningless designation that is irrelevant to the stated purpose of the campaign?

This wrong phraseology is most likely employed deliberately in these types of campaigns so as to optimize their marrow and money sucking potential.

But regardless, it is patently unethical to perform any procedure, including the collection of a DNA sample a swab brush, without the informed consent of the patient or reseach subject, and
when a person is misinformed, he or she cannot give consent.

[Bill]

Change "unethical" to

"unethical, unlawful, and actionable"

[harold]

So whom should I write to, to complain that "Jewish ancensty" is a biologically meaningless designation that is irrelevant to the stated purpose of the campaign?

First check out http://www.giftoflife.org/Pages/Ethnicity-and-Tissue-Type.aspx

Ethnicity and Tissue Type
The Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation's donor file is searched by transplant center coordinators and foreign donor registries worldwide. This is performed on behalf of patients in need of suitably matched stem cell donors. If your Human Leukocyte Antigen Tissue Type (which equates to your genetic fingerprint) matches that of a patient, a donor center coordinator will contact you and ask if you are willing to proceed with additional blood tests. If you are indeed a match, you will be counseled on the process involved in donating stem cells by a donor advocate, consult with a physician at the collection center, receive a complete health history, physical exam and laboratory tests to determine if you are eligible.

ETHNICITY AND TISSUE TYPE

Tissue type is inherited, like eye or hair color. A patient's best chance of finding a genetic match is someone who shares the same ethnic and geographic ancestry.

You can contact them at:

Contact Information

National Headquarters:

Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation
800 Yamato Road, Suite 101
Boca Raton, FL 33431

Toll Free: +1.800.9MARROW
Switchboard: +1.561.982.2900
Coordinating Center Fax: +1.561.982.2901
Donor Services Fax: +1.561.982.2902

or online at https://www.giftoflife.org/Public/ContactUs.aspx

[Bill]

Thank you, Maskil!

[Mr. Apikoros]

The national bone marrow registry includes everybody. There is no "Jewish" bone marrow registry.

Jewish groups frequently conduct drives for a person diagnosed with leukemia. The idea is to increase the possibility of the patient getting a match, as it's more likely that an Ashkenazi Jew would be a match with another Ashkenazi Jew than say, with a person of Chinese descent.

However, it would be completely irresponsible to have a Jewish-only registry, because many Jews match up with non-Jews, and vice versa. Unless you're a sibling, the chances of any one person being a match for any other person are infinitesimally small. But add up all those tiny individual probabilities and one has a good chance.

I am in the bone marrow registry, and donated stem cells to a Hispanic child in 2003.

[Bill]

harold,

"Jewish ancestry," is a genotypically and phenotypically meaningless concept that has nothing to do with the biologically meaningful term "ethnicity."

That being said, thank you for posting the contact information.

Enjoy your weekend!

[Bill]

Apikores,

I don't disagree with anything you wrote.

[Alter Kocker]

When will the Israeli government stop pandering to the Chareidim. Make the bastards work for a living and make their torah scholars take a break from studying and serve in the armed forces.

[effie]

I've been in the registry for over 10 years. And I'm ashamed it took me so long to join.

[harold]

I've been in the registry for over 10 years. And I'm ashamed it took me so long to join.

As they say, better late than never. My family has been in it since 2001. It was a drive similar to the one that took place in the 5 towns. Sometimes it takes a tragedy close to home to motivate one. The important thing is that it gets done.

Two shabbosim ago there was an urgent request that even though they collected more than 5,000 swabs, at $54 testing fee per swab a call went out for funds to get them tested. That’s more than 1/4 million dollars! I am proud to be part of a community and people that pull together when in need.

[A E ANDERSON]

I am shocked to learn that the IDF won't take haredim who try to enlist. Yes, the various hesder arrangements have always been for graduates of memlacti-dati and similar high schools. But I have laboured under the apparent misconception that the average young haredi was possessed of the free choice to be conscripted at a certain age (and thereby elect to be a normal Jewish man in the street rather than a sidelocked sectarian).

Now comes the information that the military establishment severely restricts enlistments by willing haredim (and presumably potential refugees from haredism), and it does so in collusion with the religion establishment. I should like to hear more information on this icon-shattering situation.

I am further puzzled why the IDF would want to reject able manpower out of hand. Certainly there are many jobs left for חטבי עץ ושואבי מים that can be performed by the utmost חרדי דפוק. (Unless the IDF leadership is so suffused with anti-religious prejudice that it believes haredim are congenitally defective in some way.) Methinks much prejudice lurks in the mindset of this leadership.

What is more, the cavalier attitude of the IDF toward rejecting potentially useful חומר אנושי shocks not only with respect to haredim. The near-universal system of annual reserve service has substantially diminished, I am informed, to the degree that the average Israeli does not perform more than token מילאוים with his unit, if that. Israel now appears to base its strength on a more professional, high tech force (the Rumsfeld Doctrine) rather than the Napoleonic (and Swiss) standard of universal military service. Perhaps Dimona + US technologies permit this for the time being. But when the next coalition of rabid, Jew-hating Arab states decides that massed human wave attacks are the only way to capture the Holy Land, coupled with WMD technology, we will have wished that every Jewish man, woman and youth had been trained to line up those kefiyyahs in their rifle sights, to crew serve the machine guns that will keep the invading hordes away and dead, and to otherwise help in what has been since the country's establishment a common cause for all its citizens.

It also seems to me that if IDF wants now to cherry pick its recruits, it then loses the moral force it has as the great homogeniser of Israeli society. The universal service that once bound all, olim as well as those born in the Yishuv, ceases to be, as does the society it once supported.

[effie]

"As they say, better late than never."

Not really. And I didn't do it as a response to a Jewish person in need. I just saw a booth at a street fair. In fact they were collecting for a female Sheriff's Deputy of Latino descent.

[rabbidw]

Let's get back on point. The world of the 5 Towns is filled with chareidim who are Doctors, Lawyers, Dentists and accountants. Not comparable to Israel at all.
What I would like to do with the chareidim who refuse to support themselves is also irrelevant. We are not starting from scratch. They are not serving and they are not working and they ARE getting welfare. So make the best of the bad situation. Forget the army, let them work. At the same time, we must reward the heroes who do serve.
How about a 3-5% yearly reduction on the income tax for those who have done their full service? What it would mean in real life is the income tax rate would go up for everyone, with those who served ending up with a modest tax benefit. It rewards those who serve, and it would continue as long as the person is working.
I don't think even Harold could object. In a sense, it is an idea stolen from the Civil War, where the wealthy could buy out of the draft. This will get the people working and reward those who serve.

[Yoel Mechanic]

I would like to see some employment statistics for Israel. Not easy to find, but it would be a lot better than some of the outpouring of negativity floating around. So, far this has some info about Israel:

http://www.oecd.org

Discussion of this might be productive.

http://www.oecd.org/document/21/0,3343,en_2649_37457_44411365_1_1_1_1,00.html

[Yogev]

1. 'Jewish ancestry' is an appropriate designation to describe a gene pool and is no different any other designation. It is a place to start looking, not a rock hard identity.
2. The question of haridim serving in the army avoids mentioning the 800lb gorilla in the living room. Haridim don't recognize the legitimacy of the Stat of Israel. They will question orders, checking with their rabbis first and disobeying those orders if their rabbis tell them to. No army can function like this. Haridim feel no loyalty to the State and could form a fifth column. Haridi ministers in the government take other titles so they can serve as ministers and not have to recognize the state they serve. Yet they will take money from the state for their yeshivot which supports their community by providing jobs for its members and they enjoy the physical protection from living in a Jewish State, something rare in Jewish history. And they damn the State that protects and feeds them! This isn't Judaism. This is a parasitic lifestyle dressed up for Purim.