Omri Schneider 21, is a talmid in Yeshiva Otzros Chaim in the Hadar Ganim neighborhood of Petach Tikvah. He began his journey to a life of Torah and mitzvos at the age of bar mitzvah. At the age of 16, he left his secular school for three months. However, he has not been able to get a draft deferment as a ben Torah since this is given to talmidim from the age of 16 but he only became frum officials after he was 16 and three months.

His mother, Mrs. Etti Schneider told Kikar Shabbos News that of late, the chain of events regarding her son and the IDF has worsened. She explains all of her family served in the IDF and some in senior positions and in the war in Lebanon. “Omri decided to become frum. We were not supportive at first but we saw he was genuine, learning during his vacation as well. He did not go on trips and he began giving shiurim in the shul voluntarily, Beit Knesset Tehilas Hashem. He gave a chizuk to the entire family and today, we all eat only badatz food, we are shomer Shabbos and adhere to halacha, all in his merit”.

Mrs. Schneider begins explaining what has taken place regarding Omri and military authorities. When he came of age to enter the IDF, the family brought all the necessary documentation that he is genuinely a talmid yeshiva who learns fulltime. When he came down to the draft center they told him he is too late as he left his secular school at the age of 16 and three months when the cut off was 16. Hence, in the eyes of the IDF he does not meet the criteria of one who is entitled to a deferment from military service under the category of a ben Torah.

“The IDF lost all of his paperwork including the documents form the yeshiva. They called him during his limud and he did not respond and when he tried to return the call, he realized it was a blocked number. Rabbonim in yeshiva told him that he should wait until a new government comes in, one including the chareidi parties and they would assist. He listened to them and continued his learning. From time to time soldiers come in and check out home, even at 2:00AM. Of course they did not find him. Two soldiers came to tell us he is listed as AWOL” explains Mrs. Schneider.

She adds “We decided he would turn himself in to authorities and take the punishment and move on”.

On Tuesday, Omri arrived at an IDF office escorted by family members explaining he is ready to enter military prison and serve his sentence. He brought a bit of food from home and besamim for Shabbos, expecting he would receive food in jail. He requested badatz meals and they brought him rice and he ate it despite being celiac since there were no other options. This resulted in severe abdominal pains. The next day, Wednesday, he requested badatz meals again but this time he did not receive one. Officials claim he never asked for it. Hence, he did not eat that entire day. Towards evening he was given a deli sandwich which he did not eat since it had no markings indicating it was badatz or any other hechsher for that matter. In addition, the sandwich did not conform with his diet as a celiac. “When I informed military authorities” states Mrs. Schneider, “they said ‘it’s your problem. If he is really hungry, let him eat non-badatz too’”.

The IDF Spokesman unit responded, explaining he was AWOL from service and in IDF Prison 4 where he receives food accommodating his celiac condition as well as food that is badatz, as indicated on the wrapper. He asked to see a doctor during Shabbos, but there is no doctor in the prison on Shabbos. He reported to the infirmary on Sunday morning and was appropriately treated”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)