Agudah Rabbis Call On Israeli Government To Block Military Draft of Haredim

"We are deeply dismayed by the efforts in Eretz Yisroel to draft B’nei Yeshiva [yeshiva students] and remove them from the Beis Medrash [yeshiva study halls], the wellspring of Torah to which they dedicate their days and nights…the perseverance and security of Hashem’s [God’s] people are rooted in its dedication to Torah study ..."

 

Agudah Rabbis Call On Israeli Government To Block The Military Draft of Haredim
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com

Agudath Israel of America’s Council of Torah Sages, the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America, released a statement today opposing a military draft of haredi yeshiva students in Israel and calling on the Government of Israel to maintain the status quo that until recently exempted those tens of thousands of haredi yeshiva students from military service, the JTA reported.

"We are deeply dismayed by the efforts in Eretz Yisroel to draft B’nei Yeshiva [yeshiva students] and remove them from the Beis Medrash [yeshiva study halls], the wellspring of Torah to which they dedicate their days and nights…the perseverance and security of Hashem’s [God’s] people are rooted in its dedication to Torah study ..."

Israel’s university students have never been exempt from military service, and the greatest doctors and academics in the country not only served years on active duty, but many also do miluim, reserve duty, for several weeks each year just like other Jewish israelis do – except the haredim.

The overwhelming majority of Israelis want to “equalize the burden” by drafting haredim.

Israel’s High Court of Justice ruled the haredi draft exemptions illegal in February 2012.

Even so, the pro-haredi government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dragged its feet, rejecting various proposed plans to draft haredim and blocking others while Netanyahu looks for a solution that will still allow haredi political parties to support him and keep him in power.

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Comments

[ah-pee-chorus]

dont worry, agudah. bibi is already caving in as usual. reports are theres a deal with livni and kadima with shas soon to follow.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/shas-set-to-follow-livni-into-netanyahu-government/

[Steven W]

Not that any American organization should have a seat at the table deciding internal Israeli policy but the Agudah (and similar) should absolutely be barred until they call the country by its proper name: Medinat Yisrael.

[Ben]

Good catch Steven W.

However Aguda cannot call it Medinat Israel, because they don't recognize Jewish soverenty until mashiach comes. Therefore they call it Eretz Israel (the land of Israel), as if the state of Israel does not exist.

[Garnel Ironheart]

Right, so the same Agudah that refuses to recognize the legitimacy of the State of Israel and can't even mention it in the press release expects the government there to pay attention to them?

[Scottie Boy]

From Jonathan Rosenblum:

The IDF has shown little interest in religiously accommodating large numbers of chareidi recruits. At present, the number of young men from chareidi homes seeking to enlist is greater than the IDF's ability to integrate them. The IDF has consistently resisted efforts to expand Nahal Haredi by adding new units, and is turning away potential recruits.
Rabbi Yoel Schwartz, one of the founders of the Nahal Haredi, told HaModia last week that the IDF has proven unwilling or incapable of living up to commitments to chareidi recruits. For instance, a new elite frogmen unit for chareidi recruits had to be closed very shortly after opening because the IDF did not keep its promises. He also said that the level of kashrus in IDF kitchens is rapidly declining.

[Shmarya]

Posted by: Scottie Boy | February 21, 2013 at 06:55 AM

Rosenblum is, as usual, dishonest.

What he doesn't tell his readers is that haredi modesty and kashrut demands have been rapidly INCREASING, and the IDF does not want to meet those increases because doing so would cost tens of millions of dollars.

[Jeff]

For instance, a new elite frogmen unit for chareidi recruits had to be closed very shortly after opening because the IDF did not keep its promises.

You sure it wasn't because they found out the women wouldn't get out of the ocean when they wanted to use it?