Jerusalem – Thousands of Chareidim took to the streets of Jerusalem today to protest a recent amendment to the IDF draft law that would extend the grace period for Chareidi enlistment but would still require Chareidim to serve in the army.
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The demonstration began at Kikar Shabbos and marched up Rechov Malchei Yisroel into Geula, with protestors carrying signs that said “This is the salvation of the yeshiva world?” and “Tens of hunters are waiting to ambush our children,”. Some of the protestors were dressed in sack cloth and several tangled with police who were forced to use tear gas to restore order.
The Plag Yerushalmi group, under the auspices of Rav Shmuel Auerbach, has taken a militant stance against any forced conscription and is joined by the Eida Chareidis which does not recognize the Israeli government. Both have opposed the changes to the original draft bill, which was modified to extend the grace period for Chareidi enlistment to eight years and would not enforce any criminal sanctions against those who failed to enlist. The amendment was made in conjunction with some representatives of the Chareidi community.
This is the first time that Charedi representatives have voted to set laws that will require members of the Torah world to enlist,” said Yehoshua Wein, a member of Plag Yerushalmi who was instrumental in organizing today’s demonstration. “The proof is that the Chareidi representatives who supported this idea and agreed that the Chareidi public will send its sons to the army have implemented a complete change in the relationship that has existed between the Chareidi world and the IDF since the birth of Israel until now.”
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Don’t kid yourself all this anti army rhetoric has really nothing to do with the army per say. Its anti work/ anti-secular. The army is a cop-out and an easy gueinni pig for the bitter truth that the rabbonim don’t want their guys to leave yeshiva. They have the ill-conceived notion that anything secular is trief.
Proof, Currently under this shriekliacha law passed by the evil Lapid anyone over 24 can work with zero, no army service. So where are all the accountants, lawyers , nursers, Computer tech etc..? Why can’t we start charedi colleges? Touro in EY should be jammed pack. After all the “excuse” for not working was always the army.
Yet we adopt kollels not colleges. Why?
This army thing is Bogus and a distraction from their distorted views.
They should all be thrown in jail.
The really disgusting aspect of this issue are so called “gadolim” who lend their names to the protest against equal sharing of the burden of protecting the medinah. Rather than hiding behind a shtender in some beis medrash, all chareidi boys and girls should be required to perform some type of public service. If they don’t want to serve in the IDF, they could work in schools, hospitals, food kitchens, public buildings custodial work etc.
Don’t know what kind of crappy educational system they get. If after 18 years of cheder, yeshiva, kollel, etc they are not able to go out into the world and still maintain their own yiddishkeit, what good does their educational system do?
My sons and son-in-law went into the IDF after many years in cheder and yeshiva, were able to maintain their own identity and come out still charadi with no down turn.
It is also possible to be m’korev some Jewish souls while in the army that one can not reach while in the kollel.
Too bad these super-duper ultra religious creeps don’t realize that their yiddishkiet isn’t worth much if it won’t stand the test. But maybe their are only pawns in the game of frum politics of who is in charge…