RSS Feed
Jerusalem - Rabbi : Halachically We Need 1-year Army Exemption for Newlyweds |
|
| |
Text Size
|
file photo IDF soilder praying
The matter resurfaced following the incident in which Second Lieutenant Aharon Karov from Karnei Shomron returned to battle in Gaza just hours after his wedding and was severely injured.
The bill is based on the Halachic law which states that any newlywed should be exempt from carrying a military burden for the first year of marriage.
According to Deuteronomy 24:5, "If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married."
The bill passed a preliminary vote in the last Knesset, but was put on hold due to the Ministerial Committee on Legislative Affairs' objection.
MK Amsellem said on Thursday, "The officer and newlywed's difficult story clearly illustrates to all the necessity of this law and I will work to have its legislations completed in the next Knesset."
The bill that was proposed in the previous Knesset, and supported by many MKs, calls for the amendment of the Military Service Law to say, "A person who served in the army should not be called for reserves duty to carry out operational missions during the first year from the day he is legally registered as married.
"Unless it is by an order according to article 34, or if he is considered among professionals that fill vital positions or jobs that have a shortage in manpower, as determined by the defense minister with the approval of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee."
During the proposal of the bill, it was argued that "in the early stages of building the family unit, long stays away from home, that are required to carry out operational missions in reserves service, could damage the partnership in the making."
More of today's headlines
“London - The Jewish community in Golders Green has been the target of further anti-Semitic attacks, in the form of more offensive graffiti. Graffiti reading "Kill the...”
London - More Anti-Semitic Attacks in Golders Green
New York - Shoe Designer Ad Salutes Flight 1549 With Cheeky Billboard
Total18
Read Comments (18) — Post Yours »
1
Jan 22, 2009 at 08:29 AM Anonymous Says:
Finally, they are coming to their seichel.
2
Jan 22, 2009 at 08:46 AM Confused Says:
Isn't this war a "milchemes mitzvah"? A chosson can leave imediately after the chuppah! See Bavli Sotah 44b
3
Jan 22, 2009 at 09:00 AM Anonymous Says:
“ Finally, they are coming to their seichel. ”
There is no "seichel" in expanding the number of people who are exempt from the draft and thus transfer their responsibility to others. We already have the scar of the hareidim and other ultra-frum being exempted and many women only serving in limited capacity. This means that a reservist with a family will be called up for active duty more frequently and for longer periods so that some younger bocuhurim can stay at home with their new kallah or sit in kollel and learn. This is neither fair nor consistent with yiddishe ideals. All must share the burden of defending eretz hakodesh equally and seeking to find new ways of evading military service should bring shame on those who exploit this loophole. The IDF has long been an egalitarian model where all men and women serve their country equally; it is becoming a shanda that only those with no special yichus must now serve.
4
Jan 22, 2009 at 09:14 AM Anonymous Says:
2
A war that was timed for political purposes is not a milchemes mitzvah!
5
Jan 22, 2009 at 09:37 AM dreikup Says:
milchemes mitzva is only when it's been instructed by Sanhedrin
6
Jan 22, 2009 at 09:17 AM Anonymous Says:
3
Your argument is against the Torah. If consideration must be given to the fact that exempting some shifts the burden onto others, how can the Torah give exemptions to the newly married, the new homeowner and so on?
7
Jan 22, 2009 at 09:44 AM Anonymous Says:
Ehud Olmert should serve
8
Jan 22, 2009 at 09:55 AM Anonymous Says:
“ 3
Your argument is against the Torah. If consideration must be given to the fact that exempting some shifts the burden onto others, how can the Torah give exemptions to the newly married, the new homeowner and so on? ”
The torah does NOT require that some yidden should work harder and expose themselves to risk of life more frequently and for longer periods so that a "priviliged few" can stay at home or claim to study in the yeshiva. Their lives have no more or less value than others. Eretz Yisroel was created and has existed on a notion of equality among all yidden. We should accomodate torah-based considerations where we can but not when ancient practices are distorted to create such inequality among yidden today.
9
Jan 22, 2009 at 10:01 AM Anonymous Says:
“ Ehud Olmert should serve ”
Don't worry, when the attorney general is finished with him after he leaves office he will be serving..........
10
Jan 22, 2009 at 11:10 AM SILLY Says:
“ The torah does NOT require that some yidden should work harder and expose themselves to risk of life more frequently and for longer periods so that a "priviliged few" can stay at home or claim to study in the yeshiva. Their lives have no more or less value than others. Eretz Yisroel was created and has existed on a notion of equality among all yidden. We should accomodate torah-based considerations where we can but not when ancient practices are distorted to create such inequality among yidden today. ”
You wrote that "Eretz Yisroel was created and has existed on a notion of equality among all yidden.".
Where does it say this in the torah?
Personally I love novels and fairy tales, but this one is so far the best that I have read.
11
Jan 22, 2009 at 11:03 AM Anonymous Says:
“ Ehud Olmert should serve ”
What army did you enlist in?
12
Jan 22, 2009 at 12:32 PM CUTE Says:
“ What army did you enlist in? ”
Tzivus Hashem")
13
Jan 22, 2009 at 01:11 PM BB Says:
“ milchemes mitzva is only when it's been instructed by Sanhedrin ”
This is correct. The exemption is for a halachically mandated war. The State of Israel is not Jewish state as much as it is a state with Jews. They are not obligated to follow halacha, its not applicable in this situation at all.
14
Jan 22, 2009 at 12:54 PM update on Choson Says:
“ Isn't this war a "milchemes mitzvah"? A chosson can leave imediately after the chuppah! See Bavli Sotah 44b ”
Aharon Karov, the 22-year-old soldier from Karnei Shomron who went to war in Gaza a day after his wedding and was critically wounded, is recuperating nicely and due to go for rehabilitation in a week.
Karov, the parachutist son of the rabbi of the local yeshiva, suffered multiple wounds a week ago when he entered a house booby trapped by Hamas.
Prof. Pierre Singer, head of intensive care at the Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus, said that the young bridegroom had undergone a series of operations, spending 14 hours in surgical theaters for treatment of his acute wounds. Neurosurgery was followed by an operation on his left eye to remove shrapnel, as well as operations on his mouth and jaw, and ear-nose-and-throat surgery - all in one day.
"We were very pessimistic when he came in," Singer said.
On Monday, Karov regained consciousness and was weaned from his respirator, although he continued to receive some sedation to alleviate pain.
"He knows what is happening to him, has gradually begun to recognize his relatives and environment and is able to move all four limbs," Singer said. "We hope to put him in a chair today. His vision is also expected to be normal."
As far as Singer can tell, Karov has suffered no permanent damage to his brain and will be cognitively normal. However, he will need plastic surgery to repair his nose and will have permanent scars.
But his new wife Zvia, who has been at the Petah Tikva hospital round the clock along with dozens of relatives and friends, is overjoyed to see his progress.
15
Jan 22, 2009 at 12:37 PM Askipeh Hanidreses Says:
“ There is no "seichel" in expanding the number of people who are exempt from the draft and thus transfer their responsibility to others. We already have the scar of the hareidim and other ultra-frum being exempted and many women only serving in limited capacity. This means that a reservist with a family will be called up for active duty more frequently and for longer periods so that some younger bocuhurim can stay at home with their new kallah or sit in kollel and learn. This is neither fair nor consistent with yiddishe ideals. All must share the burden of defending eretz hakodesh equally and seeking to find new ways of evading military service should bring shame on those who exploit this loophole. The IDF has long been an egalitarian model where all men and women serve their country equally; it is becoming a shanda that only those with no special yichus must now serve. ”
You say that “This is neither fair nor consistent with yiddishe ideals”. One of the “Yiddeshe ideals” to you is that women should not be “only serving in limited capacity” but in full capacity. The Rabbonim, including the Agudah, paskened in 1955 that “Giyuss Noshim” is “Yeherag ve’al yavor”, so much for a “Yiddishe ideal”. If you want to make an argument why soldiers in their “shono reshoineh” should be in the army, that is one thing; but please don’t cloak non-Yiddishe ideas as Yiddishe.
16
Jan 22, 2009 at 01:41 PM Anonymous Says:
One thing's for sure. They got a recently married guy in the picture.
My tallis hasn't looked that white in decades!
17
Jan 22, 2009 at 02:32 PM Anonymous Says:
“ You say that “This is neither fair nor consistent with yiddishe ideals”. One of the “Yiddeshe ideals” to you is that women should not be “only serving in limited capacity” but in full capacity. The Rabbonim, including the Agudah, paskened in 1955 that “Giyuss Noshim” is “Yeherag ve’al yavor”, so much for a “Yiddishe ideal”. If you want to make an argument why soldiers in their “shono reshoineh” should be in the army, that is one thing; but please don’t cloak non-Yiddishe ideas as Yiddishe. ”
Women make a great contribution to the IDF is whatever capacity they choose to serve...how dare you diminish their sacrifice as if it were some "token" or limited role...No, they do not participate in direct combat operations, but they don't do that in the U.S. either. Otherwise, the IDF is a great model for klal yisroel on how women can work side by side with men while adhering to torah ideals.
18
Jan 22, 2009 at 05:05 PM esther Says:
“ There is no "seichel" in expanding the number of people who are exempt from the draft and thus transfer their responsibility to others. We already have the scar of the hareidim and other ultra-frum being exempted and many women only serving in limited capacity. This means that a reservist with a family will be called up for active duty more frequently and for longer periods so that some younger bocuhurim can stay at home with their new kallah or sit in kollel and learn. This is neither fair nor consistent with yiddishe ideals. All must share the burden of defending eretz hakodesh equally and seeking to find new ways of evading military service should bring shame on those who exploit this loophole. The IDF has long been an egalitarian model where all men and women serve their country equally; it is becoming a shanda that only those with no special yichus must now serve. ”
and where are you sitting right now? i bet it's NOT E.Y.