Jerusalem – Rabbi : Halachically We Need 1-year Army Exemption for Newlyweds

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    file photo IDF soilder prayingJerusalem – Knesset Member Rabbi Chaim Amsellem (Shas) decided last week to revive his bill proposal calling for men in their first year of marriage to be exempt from military service.

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    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.”


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    18 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Finally, they are coming to their seichel.

    Confused
    Confused
    15 years ago

    Isn’t this war a “milchemes mitzvah”? A chosson can leave imediately after the chuppah! See Bavli Sotah 44b

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    2

    A war that was timed for political purposes is not a milchemes mitzvah!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    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?

    dreikup
    dreikup
    15 years ago

    milchemes mitzva is only when it’s been instructed by Sanhedrin

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Ehud Olmert should serve

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    One thing’s for sure. They got a recently married guy in the picture.

    My tallis hasn’t looked that white in decades!