(VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)
The accompanying video shows IDF personnel responsible for tracking down and arresting AWOL (Absent Without Official Leave) persons operating in Petach Tikvah’s Ganei Hadar neighborhood at 1:00 AM.
In the video, the officials are looking to arrest an AWOL person affiliated with Peleg Yerushalmi, waking up neighbors with the racket they are making. Police were summoned, telling them they may not bang on the door loudly as they did, but their must break into the home or leave the premises. After police spoke with them, the members of the unit left the building.
It is pointed out that the members of the Peleg follow the instructions of HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Auerbach ZT”L, who was adamant in his position, prohibiting bochrim and avreichim from cooperating with military authorities in any way. Unlike the mainstream Litvish community, in which bochrim and avreichim report to the IDF, declare limud Torah as their profession, and thereby receive a deferment from service and are eligible for funding. The Peleg followers do not report and do not fill out any forms and are therefore listed as being AWOL from military service. Their unwillingness to cooperate in any way, as per Rav Auerbach, prevent them from enjoying the same legal status enjoyed by the followers of Gedolei Torah in Bnei Brak.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
EY is a democracy and they are entitled to engage in civil disobedience with respect to a law they feel is against their beliefs. But the essence of civil disobedience is a willingness to suffer the consequences of breaking the law, including going to jail. If they disagree with the draft law, then their MKs should work with other MKs to craft some type of alternative service law whereby they can work in Chareidi mosdos in lieu of military service.
AWOL means a soldier who ran away (deserted). The yeshiva students are civilians, non-soldiers, who have refused to join the army. Israel’s policy of trying civilians by military courts, and of conscripting people with religious objections to military services is probably a violation of generally accepted international human rights standards.
Dina d’Malchuta Dina. If you don’t want to serve in the army go live somewhere else.