There is much speculation and concern surrounding the announced opening of the chareidi IDF induction center. There are rabbonim who posit that authorities realize if the draft eligible chareidim do not report to the new induction center at Tel Hashomer, the induction center and the new draft law will become irrelevant. Ironically, while rabbonim first favored the separation of services, an exclusively chareidi induction center, however today, most rabbonim are opposed. They have learned that in addition to processing potential recruits authorities have been airing videos, seeking to persuade chareidim to abandon beis medrash and enter the military.
Realizing the strong opposition among rabbonim to the videos, the IDF is discussing eliminating this aspect of the induction center. The IDF has also flexed its legal muscle and arrested a few talmidim, who have been sent to prison for not reporting, sending a message to rabbonim that they too can play hard ball. Opponents of the induction center point out that in the past, chareidim could report to the induction center in their city while today, they are compelled to report to Tel Hashomer.
The Vishnitzer Rebbe Shlita has recently reiterated his instructions to talmidim, not to report to the new induction center. Many rabbonim who sit on the respective Councils of Torah Sages are also opposed to the new induction center. There has been a deterioration regarding the level of trust between rabbonim and the IDF. In yeshivos affiliated with Slonim, signs were posted in Adar II instructing talmidim not to report to the induction center. The military is working to find a workable formula, opting for the pragmatic approach, aware if too many rabbonim prohibit their talmidim from reporting, the induction center will not succeed.
Alternatively, in the Thursday 24 Nissan Yated Neeman, it quotes a Radio Kol Berama interview conducted a day earlier with a senior IDF official who stated the chareidim induction center will not operate as expected. Yated explains that as such, talmidim will report to IDF officials to request a deferment to continue limudim as they did in the past. Nothing will change.
It is likely that in the near future the combined Councils of Torah Sages of Shas, Agudas Yisrael and Degel Hatorah will meet again and at that time, the rabbonim shlita will decide as how to instruct talmidim to act regarding the chareidi induction center.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
“hard ball” – They aren’t even close.
For the IDF, “hard ball” will involve mass arrests of yeshivos including the rabbanim and support staff (as accessories). They arrive during a learning seder, check everyone’s papers, and march them off to prison camps for indefinite (i.e. until they agree to join the army) periods. The Bnei Yeshiva will probably since “Ani mamin” as they are marched off to the army’s prison camps – an irony Israelis will understand.
For the hareidim, “hard ball” will involve serious sabotage, probably involving those hareidim who are in the army. It will involve complaints to international human rights groups. Perhaps complaints to the International Criminal Court (since human rights rules prohibit perseucting a religious minority over refusing to serve in the military). Hareidi politicians will try to cut a deal with the Israeli left, and if that fails with the Arabs. It will be messy,.
They are still playing at “Yiddle League” – “hard ball” may be in the future, but that isn’t definite. THe zionists really aren’t lemmings (one hopes).
If the Rabbanim stay united against reporting to any induction center, there’s nothing the government can do about it. There’s no way thousands of boys can be jailed. They already learned by now that every single bachur jailed gets a gezunte protest and comes out a hero, a much bigger hero than Gilad Shalit who was released after 3 years.
And these protests are huge kiddush Shem Shamayim. Many secular officers were so impressed, they even joined in the dancing.
Before everyone gets all excited remember there are limited options here. Having a specific induction center for Haredim is great opportunity to direct those who are inducted on how to proceed. Rather than shunning it the push should be to run it. The concept being to direct those who are not full time learners to a list of options (Haredi Nachal, National Service, or any other of the various Haredi friendly choice as opposed to other that are unacceptable). Also for those that are serious learners its a good opportunity to direct them thru the process of registering as such. Finally, this is a good opportunity to have a headquarters to dictate what will and what will not be acceptable for required service.
If the Haredi communities only response is to be try to hold on to the status quo (which is unsustainable) this situation will just get worse. Hard ball includes arrests which is fine to sing ani mamin and march to prison but it is not inconceivable that if arrests dont work (which it seems obvious they wont) the next step would be to cut all money to Yeshivas, Child Allotment, welfare, Hospitalization and so on.
Haredim should try at the very least to come to some sort of compromise that is acceptable. We can always sing ani mamin or move later.