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There are currently 40,000 Yeshiva students in Israel holding temporary
IDF draft exemptions. The issue of their service affects Israeli
society and national life in many ways.
We bring below a few ideas for addressing these issues using online
newspaper articles and the information on this page.
Background Information
A. Recommended reading online:
Ha'aretz Website in English
URL http://www3.haaretz.co.il/eng/htmls/1_1.htm
Tuesday, May 12, 1998
News Section
1. Barak submits Haredi draft bill, By Dalia Shehori, Ha'aretz
Correspondent
2. United Torah: 'No compromise' on army draft exemption committee,
By Shahar Ilan, Ha'aretz Religious Affairs Correspondent
Features Section
3. For ultra-Orthodox women, the work is never done, By Shahar
Ilan
The Jerusalem Post Daily Internet Edition on http://www.jpost.co.il/
Tuesday, May 12, 1998 16 Iyar 5758
News Section
4. Barak submits bill for drafting yeshiva students, By Liat Collins
B. Information Round-Up
Originally, David Ben Gurion exempted from IDF service 400 Yeshiva
students whose sole purpose in life was Torah; Menachem Begin lifted
this restriction shortly after becoming Prime Minister. The ultra-orthodox
population has in fact increased many times over since 1948, as
Israel has drawn Torah students by the excellence of its Torah institutions.
One of their positions is that the very study of Torah and fostering
of spiritual life is also a protection for the State of Israel.
Labor Party leader Ehud Barak's proposal of setting a 700 person
limit to IDF service exemptions for fit adults, is a drastic cut;
other proposals included in the bill are stringent provisions to
verify whether applicants are indeed non-employed and to apply the
law to the letter.
Even strict implementation of the existing law is expected to reduce
the current exempted population substantially, since it is reliably
assumed that this exemption for non-working students is being laxly
granted to many who actually work, but have concealed income as
student grants or not declared income at all.
Many Yeshiva students have served or do serve fully in the IDF,
largely in the National-Religious framework of special 5 year serve
& study army programs known as the Hesder yeshivot, but also
as students from well-known Hassidic yeshivot. Of those with service
exemptions, many will leave their studies at some point to serve
in regular or elite units, and others in much shorter, Stage B courses
for older, married men with families.
The vast majority of the Yeshiva and Kollel population do remain
outside the hallowed gates of the IDF boot camps, and there is significant
public resentment in many other sectors of the population at the
lack of participation in the fabric of national life. Their feeling
of many young people, in particular, is that IDF service is a duty,
a responsibility and that "Israelis give the best years of
their lives", delay acquisition of qualifications and provision
of income because of this service. In addition to this price, which
they feel should be shared equitably, far too many young soldiers
and officers pay the ultimate price in combat or active service.
In short, this is a national issue which raises the temperature
of existing public and political debate.
Political lobbying apart, it should also be noted that existing
restrictions on employment and only partial entitlement to National
Insurance benefits, disability benefits etc. [only families with
a member who has served in the IDF are able to make full claims]
do mean that a significant percentage of large Yeshiva and Kollel
families are well below the poverty line - even where wives are
employed.
Notwithstanding subsidised rental housing, free full-day education
for the children with meals and the monthly grant payment - these
communities have chosen to renounce much of the social safety net,
endure isolation, overcrowding, poverty and the attendant health
risks for the sake of their continuity of lifestyle.
Activities
1. Who should serve?
2. Is it a good idea?
3. Will the Bill Pass? - Party Lines
4. Alternative debates
Please note that these activities are based on values clarification
processes, and require expertise in the moderation and facilitation
of the discussion, particularly when it gets heated. They are therefore
suitable for college students, senior high, and adult groups, with
appropriate targeting. The online reading materials will assist
groups with interest but limited acquaintance with the topic; all
groups should relate to them at some point.
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