The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Sunday approved for its second and third readings a bill that would temporarily freeze the arrests of yeshiva bochurim whose full-time occupation is Torah study.
The measure passed by a narrow 8-7 vote, subject to a procedural reconsideration, and is expected to head to the Knesset plenum for final approval.
At the heart of the proposal is a temporary order that would suspend the arrests of eligible yeshiva students from the time the law takes effect through November 30, 2026, recognizing the importance of full-time Torah study.
Under the legislation, a yeshiva bochur will qualify if he studies Torah for at least 45 hours per week. Kollel yungeleit will be required to study at least 40 hours weekly, excluding vacation periods determined by the Defense Minister.
The Defense Minister will also be responsible for compiling the list of yeshivos eligible for the arrangement. Institutions will be required to certify that they meet the law’s study requirements.
The legislation establishes a new oversight mechanism under the Defense Ministry. Inspectors will be permitted to work together with the Education Ministry’s existing inspection system to verify compliance.
If inspectors determine that 20 percent or more of students at a yeshiva are repeatedly absent, the rosh yeshiva will receive a warning. Should the excessive absenteeism continue, the institution will be removed from the list of recognized yeshivos under the arrangement, and its students would be required to transfer to another approved yeshiva to remain eligible.
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4 Responses
If this is a full summary of the legislation, then it sounds like a reasonable peshara. Protects those who are truly learning. It would be good if yeshivos establish a transparent system of counting attendance, preventing chilonim from suspecting fraud. Would it not be Kiddush Hashem when they see how many bochrim are shteiging 16 hours a day? No reason to hide that.
I am gratified that there is a law on the books to allow temporary stoppage of Torah Talmidim and Bochurim arrests for the Israeli military draft. Now it must pass muster in the Knesset plenum for actual enactment. I would like to say that Chareidi and Chassidishe Torah lives are in the line here. Please G-D help this law to pass allowing Your Borchurim and Talmidim to safely study Your Laws. Please G-D let it be so, in Your Name, H”M. B”H Amein Selah.
The Zionists have zero right to determine vacation times and other scheduling issues, and generally need to keep their ugly paws off the Jews there.
You can bring a horse to the water but you can’t make it drink, Torah isn’t like an English class, if you don’t want it and die for it you won’t have it, and here your saying there sending officials to know if your yeshiva boys are studying, this includes no cellphones no coffee no faking gotta learn your Gemara awake, this is matzav that we didn’t know of about five hundred years ago. But Torah is not necessarily a science and not a theology it is a understanding in life not something that you can serve as a piece of cake, although it can be explained in words and studied for everybody it itself is something that only the blood can comprehend and I don’t think you can force it on anybody without that person running for his dear life