5,000 haredim crowded the streets of Jerusalem’s Mea Shearim neighborhood at 5:00 a.m. this morning to participate in a mass prayer rally against government plans to draft haredim into the army or compel them to do a period of national service. Haredim wore sackcloth, smeared ash on their heads, and recited penitential prayers known as shlichot – all signs of mourning and repentance.
5,000 Haredim Protest Army Service
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
5,000 haredim crowded the streets of Jerusalem’s Mea Shearim neighborhood at 5:00 a.m. this morning to participate in a mass prayer rally against government plans to draft haredim into the army or compel them to do a period of national service. Haredim wore sackcloth, smeared ash on their heads, and recited penitential prayers known as shlichot – all signs of mourning and repentance.
The Tal Law, which provided a legal out for haredi men to dodge the draft, was ruled unconstitutional by the High Court of Justice earlier this year and expires July 31.
Although the demonstration was primarily a project of Edah Haredit, the Mea-Shearim-based anti-Zionist haredi umbrella group, leading non-Edah haredi rabbis endorsed the rally and some, including Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach, attended.
Even a so-called moderate like the new haredi leader Rabbi Aharon Leib Steinman opposes any change to the blanket exemptions from IDF and national service haredim currently receive.
Steinman argued yesterday that Torah study protects the Land of Israel, and any decrease in Torah study – even to serve in the army – is forbidden.
Eda Haredit Chief Rabbi Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss spoke at the rally and condemned the government.
"We will not allow yeshiva students to be taken to the army or police and will not be fazed by their seductions.…[which are meant to] destroy the Torah world."
Immediately after the protest two female journalists were stoned by haredim, Ynet reported. No arrests were made because police had already left the area.
A commission appointed by the government to find a replacement for Tal Law is expected to announce its findings soon.