Full Breakdown
Tensions Rise in Israel's Haredi Community Over IDF Draft
12/25/2025, 2:27:03 AM
Background on Haredi Opposition to Military Service
The ultra-Orthodox Haredi community in Israel has a longstanding opposition to military service, rooted in a desire to maintain a distinct cultural and religious identity. This resistance has intensified following the death of Moshe Shmuel Noll, a 21-year-old soldier killed in Gaza, which highlighted the contrasting views within the community regarding military service. While some Haredi leaders advocate for enlistment, others view it as a threat to their way of life.
Recent Developments: Draft Evasion Advocacy
On July 11, 2023, a gathering of Haredi rabbis in Ramat Beit Shemesh A aimed to encourage English-speaking members of the community to evade military service. The event featured speeches from prominent figures, including Rabbi Aharon Feldman, who argued that military service would lead to cultural assimilation and loss of religious observance. Pamphlets distributed at the event explicitly promoted draft evasion and criticized the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for failing to provide suitable conditions for Haredi recruits.
Perspectives on Military Service
The IDF has made efforts to integrate Haredi individuals into military service, creating specialized units like the Netzach Yehuda battalion. However, enlistment rates among the Haredi community remain low. Lt. Col. (Res.) Yossi Levy noted that while English speakers are over-represented in certain units, many Haredi men remain exempt from service. Critics of the draft argue that military service is part of a broader agenda to secularize the community, with Rabbi Yehoshua Eichenstein claiming that the push for equality in military service is a progressive effort to dilute Jewish identity.
Conflicting Reports on Enlistment Outcomes
Research from the Israel Democracy Institute indicates that 55% of Haredi recruits serve in non-Haredi tracks, suggesting that many who enlist may not maintain their religious observance. However, Levy countered this by asserting that over 85% of those who serve in Netzach Yehuda remain observant. This discrepancy highlights the ongoing debate regarding the impact of military service on religious identity within the Haredi community.
Criticism and Community Reactions
The rhetoric employed by the rabbis at the event has drawn criticism from both within and outside the Haredi community. Some attendees expressed frustration over exaggerated claims made by the speakers. Local resident Marc Tobin articulated the sentiments of many who feel burdened by the military service exemptions enjoyed by the Haredi community, stating that it is unfair for able-bodied individuals to avoid service while others bear the burden.
Official Statements & Responses
During the event, Rabbi Feldman questioned the moral obligation of Haredim to serve in the military, emphasizing that faith should take precedence over national service. He stated, “What about the fact that other people are dying [and] we’re not dying for the army, for the country.” This sentiment reflects a broader belief among some Haredi leaders that their religious commitments supersede civic duties.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Therefore, we cannot permit our children to lose their Jewishness, we cannot permit them to go to the army as it is constituted now” — Rabbi Aharon Feldman
- “I can’t give up my children to save lives.” — Rabbi Yehoshua Eichenstein
- “It’s a disgusting thing when people who are obviously able-bodied don’t serve.” — Marc Tobin
The ongoing debate over military service within the Haredi community underscores the complexities of balancing religious identity with national responsibilities in Israel.
