MK (Yahadut HaTorah) Rav Yisrael Eichler has introduced a bill to Knesset to establish a paid professional army in Israel and to eliminate the draft. The bill would permit eligible citizens to enlist in the paid professional military, or alternatively, serve in the national service. A National Service Authority would be established and operate under the watchful eye and responsibility of the Prime Minister’s Office.
Any soldier who serves more than 24 months would be entitled to state funding for higher education and if one is not qualified to enter college or university, the money would go to preparing the soldier for entry into college. His bill would equate military and national service as far as eligibility for state benefits.
Eichler feels the establishment of a professional military is “essential” towards meeting the defense and security needs of the country. Such a military would eliminate wasted manpower.
Eichler is not pleased with the current arrangement in which one who declares learning torah is one’s profession is counterproductive, since such a declaration prevents one from entering the workforce and this has negatively impacted the nation’s economy.
A professional army would put an end to the current dispute, the waste of manpower, and result in a situation in which the national burden is carried equally by all who are interested in doing so and are deemed qualified for the job, the chareidi MK feels.
Eichler adds that studying torah plays a most important role in securing the nation, and as such, one of the national service possibilities would include combined torah study and service.
“…And the creation of the national service option given the nature of various sectors in Israel will permit adherence to the instructions and regulations of the various faiths and religious leaders” he added.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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19 Responses
and if one is not qualified to enter college or university, the money would go to preparing the soldier for entry into college.
This last part probably means entry into ‘technical school’?
finally the chareidim are facing reality.
That would solve a lot of problems. It also would probably result in a major decline in the number of yeshiva students, which is artificially inflated because of a desire not to be conscripted. The higher tax revenues these people will generate will help pay for the army.
Once the army has to compete for Hareidim, rather than by trying to draft them, they’ll probably need to institute many reforms in order to enhace recruitment.
Also, given changes in technology, large mass armies aren’t especially useful. The 21st century wars appear to require small, highly professional armies.
Let’s see if the Zionists go for that one… It takes all the fun out of things… Why do you think they wanted EVERYONE in their army including women. This is their society’s melting pot.
In any case, even if such an idea were to succeed, we still have no business associating with that State, taking money from that state or even just recognizing it as being a Jewish State. We must stay loyal to our Torah and stay away from any fabricated ‘Geulos’ and ‘alternatives’ to our true and only nationhood – Torah.
what a joke…
#4- We might explain to the zionists that if they don’t want to wake up one day in the “Islamic Republic of Palestine”, they have to beef up the army by giving up the idea of using it has a vehicle for their war against Yiddishkeit, and let the army concentrate on defending the country.
We can make it sound “cool” by pointing out that all the goyim the zionists are jealous of (Brits, Americans, Europeans) have all abolished conscription and switched to a professional army. We can make it sound “modern” by pointing out that modern wars are fought by geeks and elite special forces, and that large conscript armies that operate in brigades and divisions are just “so… 20th century.”
#1
You might have a point but it could probally mean also if the person doesn’t have a high school diploma, they will help pay for his GED (if they have a GED in Israel or something equivlent).
let’s see how they react…
i bet they will quote that its a mitsva to serve…
#6 Since Many of the Zionists are actualy Jewish individuals, I would rather tell it to them the way it is. Also, Zionism has done a way too good job fooling the Jewish people that they are representing the interests of the Jewish people. What everyone needs to hear is the real truth regarding the Zionists and their State. “This State is not ours. We Jews have absolutely nothing with the Zionist state. We will stay away from you, and you better stay away from us”.
This should have been done from the beginning. As Robert Heinlein said, a country that can’t get enough volunteers to defend it isn’t worth defending.
But they should still classify Torah learning and Tehillim-saying (but *not* lehavdil Koran or NT learning) as national service, and take the vote away from anyone who doesn’t do any kind of national service.
Not going to happen. How many people do you think would join. Almost all the guys I’m with would not be here voluntarily. Even so there is always a shortage of manpower in combat. Even in the US only a tiny percentage enlist just that they have a huge population. Besides, the main power of the army is miluim- the fact that most of the male population is able to be called up.
What about Milluim (Reserve Service)?
Eichler sounds convincing yet not reality based.
Israel is the only country that has continuous been at war since 1948 (said by Reb Y. Kaminetsky -that is Y he was against prisoner ranson in the case of Rav Hutner). Surrounded by enemies and on constant alert, when a large conscription was needed in ’73 all men were recruited to vital military areas, to fight the battle. How would that work for a professional&paid army?
Reading the postings of apukerma, Old fassioned jew, ymb and some others are just hilarious. Here, they all marched up the mountain (to battle the evil zionists..) and then, the general (Eichler) suddenly turns traitor and wants to cooperate with the “enemy”. This is such a funny story that one relishes the irony of it all…BTW- in a “coffee” room comment, I said all along that the chassidische world (of which Eichler is one) was anxious to come to an accomodation with the governemet. This is just a delicious volte face!
#4 I keep seeing your anti-Israel posts throughout the YWN boards. Your comments borderline Neturei Karta’s opinions, and they are not in line with Daas Torah. Pretty much all gedolim today who are in touch with reality realize that the end of the State of Israel would mean the deaths of millions of Jews- a second Holocaust chas veshalom.
Yeah, we had no right to reclaim the land under Halachah, and yes, the Israeli government is abominable in terms of halacha and hashkafa, but that does not mean we can or should oppose their existence. On the contrary, we have an achriyus to support all the Jews living in Israel by contributing to their well being & protection, and pushing for an eventual Torah take-over. When the govt of Etetz Yisrael is governed by yarei shamaim, and they can support the learning of Torah and end “pride marches”, the Moshiach can come.
Finally someone has the guts to call a spade, a spade. It’s time the Charedim stop getting blamed for the general populace’s disinterest in serving. Make the incentives to serve the army, so both secular and charedim who want to leave yeshiva, want to serve.
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/?p=126182#comment-256643
Logisticaly, won’t it be so much more expensive for the government to start paying for everyone’s college?
its not like they can start printing funny money like the USA does…
Old Faassioned Jew (#4) and alot of you other know-it-alls…have you ever been in Israel during a major war?
The entire male population from 18 – 54 (and a good part of the female population too)is mobilized and dispatched to their miluim units in just hours…everyone needs to be in that mobilized army…not just volunteers.
It is past due time to call a spade a spade and dismiss the high-minded excuses: This nonsense wouldn’t be up for any discussion if not for the fact that a large segement of the population is just too chicken to do their part.
#14 “Yes, indeed it was an Aveira… But now how wonderful we can bring Moshiach with it…” Don’t you see the parodox in your own words.
In terms of the Da’as Torah that you mention the most comprehensive Da’as Torah that was written on the matter was that of the Satmar Rov, And the Brisker Rov also held that it was an issur gomur to join them in any way. And it is very clear that this was the Da’as Torah of Rav Elchonon Wasserman as well as all the Gedolei Torah from the earlier generations.
Anyone who has eyes can see what a curse it is for Chareidi Jewry to be living off the Zionists. Anyone who has eyes can also see the direction in which the security of this State is going to.
And #18 this goes for you as well there is no other solution besides doing proper Teshuva, or else were heading towards the grave danger in any case.