The controversy surrounding the draft of yeshiva students intensified on Monday after a Chassidish avreich, the grandson of the Ziditchover Rebbe, was arrested.
According to the report, the grandson reported to the draft office to regularize his status after receiving a summons, not expecting to be arrested. But after arriving at the office, he was arrested, sentenced to 20 days in prison, and transferred to Prison 10.
In addition, a talmid of the Ohr HaChaim Yeshiva was arrested overnight Sunday at his home in the Pisgat Ze’ev neighborhood of Jerusalem by the Military Police. The student and his family are being represented and receiving legal assistance from the Isaacson Law Office on behalf of the Notnim Gav organization.
Kikar H’Shabbat reported that an Erlau chassid was also recently arrested and transferred to military prison after reporting to the draft office in Be’er Sheva to regularize his status.
Meanwhile, the Gerrer avreich who was lied to by the military police and arrested and sentenced to 20 days in military prison was released a day later.
Sources familiar with the matter told Kikar H’Shabbat that the military and defense establishment still fail to distinguish between different types of arrests and do not fully understand the sensitivities within the Chareidi community.
“When an ordinary ben yeshiva is arrested,” the sources explained, “localized protests usually break out, and community activists work—quietly or publicly—to secure his release. But when the person arrested is the grandson of a Rebbe or a well-known Rav, the situation changes completely and escalates to an entirely different level.”
According to the report, both the Chareidi community and police are concerned that the arrest of the Ziditchover Rebbe’s grandson could trigger large-scale protests that may become difficult to contain.
Askanim involved in draft-related issues expressed outrage, arguing that the incident amounts to a “trap” that discourages bnei yeshiva from reporting voluntarily to resolve their status.
“A bochur comes of his own free will to straighten out his paperwork and avoid future problems, only to find himself behind bars without any warning,” one askan told Kikar HaShabbat.
Sources familiar with the issue said the arrest reflects a new stage in enforcement of the draft law and updated directives under which students who fail to regularize their status by the required deadline are automatically classified as deserters and arrested as soon as they report to a government office or military recruitment center.
Askanim are currently working to secure the Rebbe’s grandson’s release in an effort to prevent a broader escalation of protests.
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
6 Responses
Why does the grandson of a Rebbe have Kedima? Is there any way to judge the value of a person? It’s a reminder of the time when the community gave up poor children to the cantonists to spare the wealthy
I am so sorry this arrest has happened. May H”M grant him peace in his Neshama and a full pardon and restitution from the government for this horrible situation.
When will they start arresting the pink-haired multiple piercings leftist clowns of Tel Aviv for not showing up for service
To the case itself – army may be in the wrong by arresting someone who came upon request, but maybe people should regulate their status before becoming law-breakers. Delaying the encounter is not doing any good. As in the other case, where bochur brought medical papers – why not bring them on time?!
As Moshe says, this is a replay of cantonists, where kahal might send poor and orphans. R Salanter and others protested mightly, including stopping shul services until the kahal addresses the fate of some poor recruit.
R Berel Wein traces animosity of early zionists in Israel towards datiim to that break up of community when Russian government created this rift between kahal and poor Yidden. I don’t think this can explain anti-religious leaders who had their own socialist reasons, but may explain why masses followed them.
Ironically, we may now see this distrust in reverse – religious Jews are losing trust in the non-religious officials. Wisdom is required on both sides to resolve this.
@Moshe
Perhaps judging fellow Jews more favorably would be better, especially as the 9 Days approach.
They don’t have kedima; it’s just a practical matter that if the whole community hears that the reshaim took their Rebbe’s grandson, that will spread to tens of thousands or more, and if they all react then that would be a big problem for those reshaim. As opposed to an “ordinary” Jew, not nearly as many Jews would necessarily hear about it and therefore the reaction would be less. And the reaction is the reshaim’s concern, not the yichus.
Moshe, Look at הוריות יג עמוד ב. The children of תלמידי חכמים and פרנסי צבור are supposed to be accorded respect. Perhaps grandchildren are different. I don’t know.