Haredim and the army in light of the war

For the past few days the news has been reporting a general significant uptick in Haredim who have already received exemptions form the army contacting the army requesting to be drafted. Some might want combat roles, but many are looking for official positions in non-combat roles but in ways they can help. Some reports today are saying the specific number of 1500 haredim having registered with the army requesting to be drafted.

1. I dont know if that is true or accurate but it is not surprising. The Haredi community was affected as much as every other community by the situation and the outpouring of love and assistance from the Haredi community shows a connection that did not exist in the past, or at least not as strongly. As much as any other group, Haredim, here and abroad, are involved in organizing efforts and donations and supplies for the soldiers and affected communities, along with davening and "light kiruv" efforts that strengthen morale  such as tzitzis tying and donating, shabbos candles, singers and kabbalat shabbat events before Shabbos, placement for families in other parts of the country for those who want, etc. So it is not surprising that many also want to "do more" and not just sit on the sidelines (in their words, from quotes from articles).

2. This war will have changed everyone by the time it is over. the Haredi community and its approach to the army included.

3. Not 100% connected to the above, but still. The Haredi politicians had been threatening to pull out of the coalition and bring down the government if the Draft law is not passed immediately upon the new Knesset session starting now (it was scheduled for today but I dont know if that was adjusted because of the war). Goldknopf clearly and explicitly threatened to resign if it would not be promoted immediately in the way they want it with no compromise.

That is clearly not going to happen now. Not even because of the original difficulties with passing such a law but because of the war and trying to pass such a law now would be a disaster.

4. I dont see how once the war is over the government wont resign and collapse. That is minimum responsibility for the tremendous failure of the past week, let along the past year (and more). The government is not solely responsible. The army and other security agencies all surely have roles in the failure and relevant people in all those organizations will have to take responsibility, but that wont absolve the government from their part in this. 

This means that the Draft law is going to wait a while.

5. I do think the younger Haredim today feel far more connected to the State of Israel than in the past and after this war, and after the response we have seen from the Haredi community and its involvement, I think we will see far more young Haredi men drafting to the IDF in the future. The Haredi leadership will surely work hard to try to stem the tide and keep boys in yeshiva, but that strong bond is already there.

6. Many young Haredim who get exemptions from the army do so for medical reasons, and some for mental health reasons. Many of those health issues, especially the psychological ones, are fictitious, with them staging some sort of issue just to get out of the army. I wonder if these young men trying to get drafted now who were already given exemptions will have that original medical condition now bite them in the a$$ and prevent them from being drafted now that they want to - it may very well say in their records (or in some of the records) that so and so is unfit for service due to this or that condition.

------------------------------------------------------
Reach thousands of readers with your ad by advertising on Life in Israel

------------------------------------------------------