Recognizing Chabad Shlichus as ‘National Service’

(Tuesday, December 31st, 2013)

rebbeThe Shaked Committee, which is in the final stage of completing a new chareidi draft law has decided to recognize Chabad shlichus around the world as valid national service. The initiative to accept the Chabad shlichus was that of MK (The Movement) Elazar Stern, who is a retired IDF Chief of Personnel Branch.

Stern feels that services provided by talmidei yeshivos outside of the borders of Eretz Yisrael are valid, and this will without a doubt include Chabad shluchim. Stern added that if any organization fits this bill it is Chabad and its emissaries around the globe, those continuing tireless efforts on behalf of the Jewish People.

Stern added “One of our greatest achievements by accepting this is that we succeed in connecting Chassidei Chabad to the State of Israel and that we recognize the shluchim of the rebbe as our shluchim”.

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After it was approved, committee member MK (Yesh Atid) Ofer Shelach asked for a second vote when the committee convenes next week.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

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18 Comments

  1. Fresser Rebbe says:

    Based on this logic, anyone carrying out an act of aggression against Chabad could (should) be considered an act of terrorism against the state

  2. lamdan50 says:

    So now all who belong to Degel faction will become Chabad shiluchim can’t wait when the same rosh yeshivas that signed on to the Chabad bashing in 1988 will use Chabad now LOL

  3. MDshweks says:

    and what about Yad Laachim? Lev Laachim? Breslev? Aish Hatorah? who is going to pick and choose what’s acceptable?

    it’s not going to be about who does good for spreading Judaism, but it’s about who’s nicer to zionism.

  4. porque says:

    If they allow this as :National Service”, other missionaries such as the christian and Muslim missionaries within Israel will also ask for the same privilege.

  5. 419elm says:

    What a way to go chabad go chabad go

  6. Yanky55 says:

    Kol Hakavod!

  7. akuperma says:

    But Chabad normally doesn’t send 18 year olds. If an18 year old is sent somewhere, it is basically to learn in a place and thereby help build up the community. So does that mean they’ll recognize any 18 year old going to a foreign community if it helps build up that community?

    Most of the frum community hold that learning Torah for several years, at least, at the end of adolescence is “service” and is a requirement to help keep our community strong. If the hilonim recognize learning Torah as “national service” it would resolve the controversy, but it isn’t likely this will survive into the final draft of the law.

  8. badchradyjew says:

    So what bout other kiruv people

  9. dogo says:

    So any Chabad talmid that goes to learn in NY will be exempt because he is Chabad, and will say it is shlichus. If thats the case then any yeshiva/collage student leaving Israel abroad, should be exempt.

  10. zionflag says:

    Shlichus is an excellent service to outlying communities. Same should work for those going to teach, learn or do klei kodesh in these areas.

  11. hrhine@fedkas.com says:

    Kupperman as always you miss the point. No one says that learning torah is not valuable, but combinig it with national service is all the more valuable. and what about those who do not learn but profess to do so and use it as an excuse not to serve?

  12. mesorah 123 says:

    Couple of problems with this. 1) Eyn shliach ldvar averah. What Chabad spreads is a neo-christian theology that is kofer in toras hashem. To recognize that as service of the state is sad. 2) This type of exemption seems to be defining what is “service” and what isnt. This is precisely the point the agudah and degel have been making that limmud hatorah is in itself a value that many ppl (perhaps not for all) should be engaged in and is a value and “service” to the Jewish people far more then chabad “shlichus”

  13. PBT says:

    Do you have to believe the Rebbi is Moshiach? Or does disbelief count as terrorism against the state?

  14. MDG says:

    “Kupperman as always you miss the point. ”

    Please understand that his religion is anti-zionism. That is the prism through which all is seen.

  15. UWSider says:

    Umein!!! If not for the Rebbe’s tefillin campaign the Six Day War would have had a much more tragic outcome. Yechi!!

  16. AvrahamYishai says:

    It’s certainly a laudatory idea. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if the sonei Yisrael don’t somehow torpedo it for many of the reasons stated. But the truth is — this is an excellent way for Netanyahu to extricate himself from the predicament of further alienating the haredi public. Many of the Kollel M’Tsion shalichim, Aish HaTorah, Ohr Somayach, Ner L’Elef, and Me’or participants will similarly be able to fulfill their National Service this way. It will also pave the way for Israeli haredi bachurim to “share the burden” [sic] by participating in similar social services programs in development towns, etc. It will be curious to see how this plays itself out in the end.

  17. Ben Torah says:

    #14: That (which is in line with Judaism) is certainly far far better than believing in the zionist religion which is antithetical to Judaism.

  18. RabbiYoni says:

    I can’t wait until everyone in the Agudah suddenly becomes “Lubavitch”!

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