Following a series of court rulings and government decisions over the past year that led to the suspension of various budgets and benefits for bnei yeshivos, the left-wing organization Israel Hofsheet is now seeking to expand those efforts to local authorities, this time focusing on summer events and Bein Hazmanim activities.
According to a report in Haaretz, attorney Yael Weisel of Kalai-Rosen & Co., acting on behalf of Israel Hofsheet, sent letters to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara as well as the legal advisers of the Jerusalem, Ashdod, and Arad municipalities.
The organization is demanding that municipalities halt funding, grants, and benefits provided to institutions and events connected to yeshiva students whose military status is not regulated. The appeal cites a 2025 High Court ruling stating that “as a general rule, benefits that are granted directly or indirectly in connection with evasion of the draft—for example, benefits granted to a yeshiva student as such, when remaining in the yeshiva constitutes evasion of military service—should not continue to be provided.”
The new demand follows a series of measures taken over the past year, during which various budgets and benefits for the Torah world were canceled or reduced following High Court rulings and legal petitions. Among other things, funding for bnei yeshivos subject to military service was halted, additional benefits were reduced, welfare funding for yeshivos serving at-risk students was revoked and other support programs were affected. The organization now argues that the same policy should apply to funds distributed through local authorities.
Joining the demand was Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Yossi Havilio, who appealed to the city’s legal adviser, Chaim Nagrasi, requesting that funding for the events be stopped.
“We oppose the Jerusalem Municipality funding events for bnei yeshivos who do not enlist, thereby encouraging draft evasion,” he said.
The Jerusalem Municipality responded that all municipal activities are open to the general public in accordance with the legal adviser’s guidelines. The municipality added that it is not the body authorized to examine the personal military status of participants and does not possess such information.
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
4 Responses
Yes, this is a leftist organization.
And, what other job pays people to take off for three weeks in the summer, 3 weeks in Tishrei and the month of Nissan? Working stiffs get 15 to 18 days a year, plus half a day most erev Yom Tov, off for Yom Tov when melachah is assur (not Purim) etc.
The oilem has to realize that these lengthy, highly visible vacations are not the norm, and when people see public funding going to these events, it doesn’t do anyone any favors.
Yes, there should be equal access to funding. And, it’s time to revisit the yeshiva schedule to better reflect what a full time schedule looks like for rest of the world.
wow, I didn’t know that Medinah is sponsoring bein hazmanim events for bochrim … even college students are not paid for taking vacations. The velt should really be humbled by this generosity and not protest when such excessive largess is taken from those who break dina d’malchusa, it is not “oppression”. Czar in Russia also didn’t sponsor vacations for cantonists or any other Yidden
They treat the chareidim like the lowest of the lowest. Cuz most of these haters are perverts. discusting behavior.
If you aren’t willing to do what the Zionists demand, don’t accept their money. If you want their money, you have to serve in their army. The English saying is “He who pays the fiddler, calls the tune”.