Yeshivah Bill: Why Can’t Our Bochurim Just Learn Torah?

Recently, Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav–Miara directed the IDF to draft Yeshivah bochurim and avreichim to the army. The directive breaks from the long-standing exemption offered by the israeli government to the Yeshivas by a series of laws, which have since been invalidated by the leftist Supreme Court.

A number of Bochurim received conscription orders. What happened?

In 2017, the far left Supreme Court struck down the existing law and gave the Knesset a year to enact a new one. However, with four back to back elections producing no clear winners, the Court was forced to extend the deadline repeatedly.

Finally, after winning a stable majority in 2022, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delayed enacting the law. When the previous law regulating exemptions expired last summer, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued a temporary directive not to draft Yeshivah bochurim until April 1.

After the AG’s directive, PM Netanyahu requested a 30-day extension in a letter to the Supreme Court. He argued that the government didn’t have the time to act on a plan due to the ongoing war in Gaza.

The PM argued that, “The ministers and I involved in this are required to invest the vast majority of our time in managing the war, in the diplomatic arena, and in everything that accompanies it. Nevertheless, we made a tremendous effort, even amid the war, to resolve this important issue.”

The Israeli Education Ministry sent a letter to the heads of Yeshivas, informing them of the suspension of funding. After the liberal court issued an interim injunction against funding the Yeshivas.

While there are about 155,000 bochurim and avreichim over the age of 18, the cuts are only for those “designated for security service,” which is estimated at just over 60,000 bochurim according to the IDF. For the past years, they have been receiving deferrals for six months and not a full exemption from Army service.

According to reports, the IDF is not looking to enforce conscriptions immediately and is looking to implement a framework if it even needs to enforce a draft.

In the immediate term, the Yeshivas administrators and the Government would need to reach a compromise that would satisfy the progressive Court, what would that be?

The best path forward would be to pass a formal bill giving a permanent exemption to Yeshiva bochurim and avreichim. This path is littered with difficulties as to whether or not the bill would pass, it would break the current government. The Frum parties in the Knesset say they will leave the government if a bill isn’t passed, and the non-frum parties say they will leave if the bill passes.

The Ponevezh Rosh Yeshivah, Hagaon Harav Baruch Dov Povarsky said during a meeting, “If the IDF knew the value of Limud Hatorah, they would understand that it is best for yeshiva students to continue their studies. Because it is obligatory for the Yeshiva bochurim to strengthen themselves in the Torah and Teffilah, especially during this period of war, as well as in the days of peace.”

Yeshivah Administrators told B’Chadrei Chadarim, “We won’t suffer from this budget freeze. In the near future, we will have to embark on a significant fund-raising campaign. The Torah world will withstand this pressure.”

A recent urgent Asifa before Pesach in Bnei Brak with Gedoli Hador and Rabbanim from Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah – Degel HaTorah, Agudas Yisroel and Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah (Shas), Gedolim Shlita emphasized that the Torah protects and saves. The Torah protects the IDF soldiers. The Torah protects Am Yisroel. The Torah protects Eretz Hakodesh.

An emergency Kinus of Roshei Yeshivos was held afterwards to address the situation.

FrumNews.com wants to highlight that since the start of the milchama on Simchas Torah, thousands of Frum Israeli Charedim have voluntarily enlisted on their own into the IDF, mostly joining and expanding the already established Frum chassidishe units in combat divisions such as:

• Netzach Yehuda–Nachal Charedi Battalion in Kfir
• Tomer Battalion in Givati 
• Chetz Battalion in Tzanchanim (Paratroopers)

As well as the popular Shachar Kachol non-combat unit established for Yingerleit.

Additionally, the dozens of large Hesder Yeshivas which combine Limud Hatorah and volunteering in the IDF. The Hesder Yeshiva (Dati Leumi) Bochurim, mostly from Yishuvim in Yehuda and Shomron, proudly serve, as Bnei Yeshiva and Bnei Torah together with their fellow classmates and Rebbeim in all units, branches and divisions of the IDF. In fact, many motivated Hesder yeshiva bochurim make it to top units and special forces divisions within the IDF, all while being Shomer Torah Umitzvos.

The Frum and Chassidish communities of Eretz Yisroel have the largest percentage of volunteering for emergency rescue chesed organizations in every Israeli city, Including Zaka, United Hatzalah of Israel, Magen Dovid Adom (MDA) and Yedidim.