ubiq:
It is hypocritical when a group claims to believe that learning protects them so they dont need to serve (even in a non-military capacity). yet when faced with a “threat” (and it is hard to call having people register a threat) all of a sudden forget about learning, it is time to play in the street and inconvenience others
The Brisker Rov once asked why it is that on Channukah we fought the Yevanim in a physical battle, while on Purim we fasted and prayed. Why the different approaches? He answered that on Purim we were faced with physical annihilation, so we knew the only solution to that was in Hashem’s hand – we don’t control the world, He does. But on Channukah we faced a spiritual danger, and הכל בידי שמים חוץ מיראת שמים, so we had to take matters into our own hands and fight a physical battle to save our spiritual well-being.
(A quick caveat – just because I don’t believe the actions of Peleg Yerushalmi are hypocritical does not mean I support them. I follow the opinion of R’ Shteinman, R’ Chaim, and the vast majority of Rabbonim that these protests are only counter-productive, and that everyone should go get a deferment and go back to learning.)