“God forbid, that an unmarried yeshiva student at any level of learning, or a married student, even if he has problems with his income, should leave the holy guard post [yeshiva], and should not be enticed by any ‘haredi’ or non-haredi elements promising a future with money and honor if he joins some [IDF] course,” Cohen reportedly wrote, adding that everyone who lures or “entices [haredi yeshiva students to join the IDF] and incites [yeshiva students to leave their Torah studies to join the IDF] causes the masses to sin.”
Above: Rabbi Shalom Cohen
Top Sefardi Haredi Rabbi Rules Yeshiva Students Are Forbidden To Serve In The IDF, Calls IDF Recruiters “Enticers” Who Have No Place In The World To Come
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
The spiritual leader of the Sefardi haredi Shas Party, Rabbi Shalom Cohen, signed a strong letter ten days ago warning haredi yeshiva students not to join the IDF.
The letter, which was kept from the news media and public until yesterday, also attacked haredim who promote serving in the IDF and warned that these men will have no place in the World to Come for doing so, the Jerusalem Post reported today based on a Radio Kol Chai report that aired last night.
Cohen reportedly claimed in the letter that the security of the Jewish people is based on the merit in heaven earned by yeshiva students for their Torah study. Therefore, Cohen insisted, no yeshiva student should enlist in the IDF.
“God forbid, that an unmarried yeshiva student at any level of learning, or a married student, even if he has problems with his income, should leave the holy guard post [yeshiva], and should not be enticed by any ‘haredi’ or non-haredi elements promising a future with money and honor if he joins some [IDF] course,” Cohen reportedly wrote, adding that everyone who lures or “entices [haredi yeshiva students to join the IDF] and incites [yeshiva students to leave their Torah studies to join the IDF] causes the masses to sin.”
Anyone who does this has no place in the World to Come, Cohen wrote, because the Rambam (Maimonides) ruled that anyone who entices people to sin loses his place in the afterlife.