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| Coalition lawmakers debate Charedi draft exemption bill (TOI) |
One is their belief that Torah study should automatically exempt one from serving, in the belie that it is far more protective of the Jewish people than any army is. And two, they fear that the army will cause massive defections from Torah observance. A fear they claim is supported by a statistic (quoted recently by Rabbi Aharon Feldman) that 50% of observant Jews who entered the IDF became non-observant.
So ideally the belief by all Charedi leaders is that there should be no IDF service at all for anyone
who is Charedi. But there seems
to be a split among these leaders between the ideologues and the pragmatists.
The former refuse to budge an inch from their zero-Charedi-enlistment policy;
the latter believe that a compromise is necessary if their community is going
to survive financially. The pragmatists have been negotiating with legislators
in the Knesset to get the best deal they can. One that, in their eyes, would
minimize as much as possible any Charedi IDF service.
As I understand it, the deal offered by the current
government would pretty much permanently codify into law a permanent exemption
for any Charedi registered as a full time Torah student. Allowing only Charedi men not
studying Torah to serve - but not in combat
roles. Apparently the pragmatists are mulling this over, even as the ideologues
remain adamant about their ‘no Charedi in the IDF’ policy.
I don’t know where this is headed. But if past is prologue,
a previous compromise - one that exempted all Charedim from the draft as long
as they registered, caused a major split within the Charedi leadership. The
hardliners who rejected even registering for the draft were accused of being rebellious sages by the pragmatic leaders who
supported that compromise. We may now be heading in the same direction with
this new version.
As far as I am concerned, the word compromise should
never be used in matters of war, where
one segment of the population ends up getting off the hook—spared from the
risks and sacrifices others must bear. That is, in effect, what this compromise
does. If accepted by the government and passed into law, Charedim will be
spared from any harm in battle because they will be exempt from combat.
It should be noted that the current attitude of the Charedi leadership is not is not
the same as the Charedi leadership of the past. One of their most revered sages
held that if one is not studying Torah full time, they should serve in the
IDF. A view shared by the Chazon Ish, the father of
the modern era yeshiva system in Israel.
Today’s elderly leaders are old enough to remember the Chazon
Ish (who died in 1953). But they seem to have forgotten what their uncontested leader held.
Without even getting into the halachic requirement for every
Jew to do battle when the existence of the Jewish people is at stake - the
sheer injustice of this kind of deal is breathtaking in its Chutzpah.
And perhaps more importantly it is heartbreaking to the
families who have lost loved ones fighting an enemy whose stated goal was to
exterminate all of the Jewish people in the holy land. They embarked on that
goal with a massive murderous terror spree. Which took place on that fateful
October 7th day. That their plans were thwarted only after two years
of war cost many Jewish lives and left many more with serious,
permanent injuries.
One can only imagine how bereaved families feel about a
compromise that continues to leave Charedim entirely exempt from dangerous combat.
Actually, one doesn’t have to imagine it. Their feelings are
spelled out in a letter available at Rabbi Slifkin’s Substack. What struck me
most about that letter was the long list of signatures on it. All of whom are
from religious or traditional families that have lost loved ones in war.
There are up to a hundred thousand able-bodied Charedim. They and
their families would avoid these dire consequences if the bill is passed
as it is written now. The letter asked the Knesset to reject this unfair
compromise. Israel needs soldiers. There are not enough, even though almost the
entire country (except for Charedim) is subjected to army service. Charedim are
needed to fill the gap.
That gap is currently being filled by excruciatingly long
tours of duty by exhausted soldiers. Tours that in many cases have cost them
their businesses or livelihoods. Tours that have separated them from their
families for long periods of time. Tours that have caused endless sorrow and
pain to families all over the country. Except for Charedi families. And this
new compromise would continue to give Charedi families peace of mind - knowing
their children will not be harmed in battle. Even if a few of them will be
required to serve in some capacity.
If I were a father whose son was serving in the IDF, I would
be livid.
And yet…
Even though it isn’t fair, I prefer a compromise. But not
this compromise. Even though it grates against my sense of justice, a civil war
between the Charedi world and the rest of Israel would surely destroy the
country. A house divided against itself cannot stand.
Israel cannot - MUST NOT - become a land of privilege for some
because of the unreasonable fears of Charedi leadership. They must do more to
find a compromise that is more equitable. One that will fill the manpower
shortages that exist now. Whatever that number is, the goal must be that there
be no manpower shortage. The, number of Charedi recruits MUST fill that need.
If I understand correctly, the IDF needs another 20,000 additional recruits. About 20% of the total. And they must be subject to the same combat duty as everyone else. The rest can then remain exempt. It may not be fair to give Charedim more exemptions than the rest of the country. But if the needs of the IDF can be met without a civil war by such a compromise, it should be passed into law. Because at least then – a significant number of Charedim will share the same burden borne by the rest of Israel. If that solves the army’s needs, would the avoidance of a possible civil war not be worth the price?
Alas, I am inclined to believe that the current Charedi leadership will never accept such a compromise. But one can dream…
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