A new initiative established under the guidance of leading dayanim and poskim will provide NIS 1,000 for every day a yeshiva bochur or avreich spends behind bars in a military prison after being arrested by military authorities over the draft issue.

The initiative, called “Prison 1000,” was established amid an increase in enforcement and arrests against bnei Torah. Its goal is to provide financial support to families when a ben Torah is taken into military custody, helping cover the expenses and financial difficulties that can accompany an arrest.

The fund is overseen by a committee of dayanim that includes HaGaon HaRav Naftali Nussbaum, Raavad of the Hayashar Vehatov and Ahavas Shalom batei din; HaGaon HaRav Yaakov Tufik Abiezri, Av Beis Din for monetary matters in Beitar; HaGaon HaRav Yaakov Meir Stern, Av Beis Din of Badatz Kehillos Yaakov in Bnei Brak; HaGaon HaRav Eliyahu Posen, Av Beis Din in Bnei Brak and Elad; and HaGaon HaRav Tzvi Braverman, Raavad of Beitar Illit and Av Beis Din of Nesivos Chaim. The dayanim will have exclusive authority over halachic questions, eligibility and distribution of the fund’s money.

Under the program, a family will receive NIS 1,000 for every full day that a ben Torah remains imprisoned. The money is intended to help cover legal advice, transportation and visits, as well as lost workdays for family members.

The program operates on a shared contribution model. Whenever an eligible arrest occurs, each member will be charged up to NIS 1 per day, along with a NIS 3 monthly administrative and operating fee. As more people join the initiative, the amount required from each individual member will decrease.

The program’s regulations, prepared with legal guidance from the Gedalyahu and Horowitz law firm, specify that assistance will only be provided in cases of unexpected arrests imposed on a ben Torah because of his conscientious position.

Those who deliberately report to draft offices or police stations, or attempt to travel through airports or border crossings and are subsequently arrested, will not be eligible for assistance from the fund.

Registration is currently expanding through Chareidi communities, yeshivos and kollelim, with institutions joining collectively to provide coverage for their talmidim and avreichim.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)