Dovid Menachem Mintzberg, who sat in military prison for 40 days for the “sin” of limmud Torah, was greeted with a jubilant crowd when he was finally released last week.
Mintzberg is one of three avreichim arrested at a protest against the chillul kevarim at an ancient beis kevaros in Yehud and then transferred to military prison. The other two avreichim are still in prison.
Mintzberg spent a significant portion of his imprisonment in isolation for refusing to wear a military prisoner uniform for religious reasons.
Upon his exit from the prison gates, he was greeted with singing and dancing by relatives, friends, and neighbors and reunited with his infant son.
On the way to his home in Beit Shemesh, the crowd stopped at the Bnei Yerushalayim shul, at the entrance to the city, where a l’chayim and lively singing and dancing were held in his honor. Later, they arrived at the Sha’arei Rama Beis Medrash, and more dancing took place on the streets.
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
12 Responses
Why does Yeshiva World continue to describe noncompliance with the national draft mandated of all Jewish Israeli equally as being “arrested for the sin of limud Torah”? There is no prohibition whatsoever against studying Torah—whether as children or adults, in yeshiva, in the army, or even in prison.
We are rightly outraged when the other side exaggerates, distorts, or spins the narrative. Why then does Yeshiva World feel justified in doing the same when the shoe is on the other foot?
The way this is being portrayed is misleading and harmful.
Dovid Menachem Mintzberg was not arrested in the middle of limud haTorah in a beis medrash. He was arrested at a protest against alleged chilul kevarim—where, as is typical, the majority of peaceful protesters were left alone, and only those who provoked, broke the law, or disrespected law enforcement were taken into custody. To frame his imprisonment as being “for the sin of learning Torah” is not accurate.
In reality, much of his extended sentence came from his refusal to wear what amounts to a meaningless prison uniform. This choice, while painted as heroic, was at the cost of taxpayer resources, further separation from his infant son, and greater tension with the authorities. That is not martyrdom—it is provocation.
Let’s also not forget: in times of crisis, need, or threat, these are the very same individuals we call upon as our first responders and protectors. They are God’s messengers in safeguarding Am Yisrael, and they deserve our respect and acknowledgment, not contempt.
Our community needs to show greater maturity. Instead of condoning, protecting, or even celebrating this type of behavior, we should recognize that such actions damage our credibility. We can and should have principled disagreements with other hashkafos—but they should be expressed respectfully, in a way that reflects our role as true Charedim.
Even if we differ from religious Zionists, we must acknowledge their sacrifices. They serve and defend Klal Yisrael without abandoning their limud haTorah or shemiras hamitzvos. Their philosophy is imperfect—as is ours—but they deserve respect, not dismissal.
If we expect others not to distort or exaggerate against us, we cannot justify doing the same when it suits our narrative.
This is a Jewish warrior, not the silly guys running around with m-16s
He would be even more happy, if he could actually see all those young boys who do have to serve and risk their lives fighting in the army.
he is a tzadik and moser nefesh for Torah and was a Prisoner of Zionists, similar to Mendelevich being in a gulag.
lover of Zion, OUR Daas Torah says not to serve if the Dati LEUMI wish to die for mehalel Shabbos leaders like Netanyahu and Lapid thats THEIR cheshbon we will not die for Zionis,
Why the celebration?
Why the laughter and joy?
Yiddin are in Golus and there is a dangerous war and עם ישראל needs fighters on the front lines and these loony tunes are making the biggest חילול השם possible.
A little ענווה would go a long way and a little הכרת הטוב to the כלל for going out and protecting us is something that every Frum Yid must do.
He was not arrested for the sin of learning Torah. No avreich is being arrested for the sin of learning Torah.
It is absolute slander to accuse the State of Israel of categorizing limud HaTorah as a sin.
The government is asking all able-bodied men to share in the burden of defending the country.
I’m very happy that his avreich has the joy of being reunited with his child. But what of the many thousands of young Israeli soldiers who also have families who are away from home on reserve duty for months at a time – some of whom are avreichim and bnei yeshiva themselves!
The chareidi communities have to be honest with themselves and with the Israeli public that they are not asking for exemptions from military service for bnei yeshiva. They are asking for and have always really wanted a blanket exemption for a whole class of people, namely the chareidim, of which they are members. How is that fair?
If they fear assimilation in the army, let them dialog with the IDF and work out special divisions. These divisions already exist despite years of intransigence by the chareidi communities. Imagine how amazing these division might be if the chareidi communities had sat down the leaders of the IDF in a spirit of cooperation.
He was arresting for breaking the law. For someone that busy with “Limud Hatorah” he seems to have found plenty of time to demonstrate at gravesites that are likely Goyim. This article is a joke and so is this guy!
We all stand up in awe and deep respect to HaTzadik Dovid Menachem Mintzberg shlit”a for his heroism in fighting the Atheist Zionist State and their war against Judaism.
It’s just the Attorney General why does everyone keep saying the government wants Yeshiva students to serve. The prime minister is completely against bringing this up during the war and causing such chaos and headaches. They’re dying to fire her and the corrupt Nazi Court doesn’t let. Stop sticking up for the Attorney General you idiots she visits terrorists in prison and gives them legal representation, that’s the side you’re taking? This would have never come up if not for her
How can so many seemingly shomer Shabbos people.openly talk against rav Lando, rav Hirsch, rav shternbuch, rav Yosef, rav zilberstein?? They all made clear that it’s forbidden to serve for a Yeshiva student and people here think they are stupid? it’s a tragedy beyond words how can you call yourselves religious when you spit at the holiest names of Our Generation and with a smile on your face. You’re going to pay very dearly and stop pretending to be religious at least give up what little bit you pretend to keep