rabbiofberlin: The Chazon Ish said that we needed two generations of exclusive Torah learning to rebuild Torah after WWII. That has long ended and B”H it was successful. Now it’s time to get back to normal.
Many Chareidim want to be able to support their families. Not everyone is sitting and learning, nor can they. Poverty is being forced on them by their leadership. While it was foolish to force the issue, especially since it backfired, Chareidim, in increasing numbers, were joining the IDF or doing Sheirut Leumi.
You have to understand Israeli politics. The last government was held together by a thread. That gave Lapid lots of power. At the same time, Bennett countered him in every way possible and minimized the damage. There were even articles in the Chareidi press that Chareidi politicians weren’t too upset by the bill despite their yelling, because they knew that it really had no teeth and could have been far worse.
Those bochrim that were arrested for a short time, weren’t being drafted. They only had to report for a rating, as they always had, but were told not too go. That forced the government’s hand to take action.
It’s not just an issue of the IDF, it’s about getting out of poverty. The demand for more and more welfare, by an already overburden public, among other issues, created a backlash that created Lapid.
There are better ways of doing things than a constant heavy handed approach to everything, without changing anyone’s hashkofo. Just being more diplomatic. It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it and if it’s not a halachic issue, compromise once in a while and have an understanding of other people’s needs too.