The following is from Israel Hayom:
Leaders of the Chabad-Lubavitch ultra-Orthodox movement have brokered an agreement with the Israel Defense Forces to draft male members for full military service. The agreement is to be signed soon, both sides report. The move marks the first time an entire Orthodox Hasidic movement will commit itself to sending its members to the Israeli military.
The deal is unique and significant as most Israeli ultra-Orthodox men do not perform military service, preferring instead to focus on their religious studies. The issue is a serious cause of tension between the religious and secular sectors of Israeli society.
The agreement between Chabad and the IDF, which comes after several months of negotiations, allows Chabad yeshiva students to leave the country for one year at the completion of their religious studies. After their year abroad, the students will be required to return to Israel for regular military service of three years.
The agreement stipulates that the men will be drafted and will have to serve a full three-year term even if they were married before beginning their service.
Chabad is concerned about fallout from other ultra-Orthodox groups because of the agreement, said a source with knowledge of the agreement. The IDF, on the other hand, is satisfied, considering the agreement a significant achievement after years of trying to integrate ultra-Orthodox communities into greater Israeli society, and is looking forward to the official support of some of Israel’s most highly respected rabbis and Haredi community leaders. “This sets a precedent in the Haredi world,” the source said of the agreement. “For the first time, rabbis will support an agreement that will significantly increase the numbers in the IDF’s ranks.”
An official statement from the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit also downplayed the agreement’s significance. “IDF representatives constantly meet with relevant people in efforts to increase the numbers of those who are drafted. There is nothing new in the report,” the statement said.
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11 Responses
I sincerely doubt the veracity of this anonymous Hayom report. The Lubavitcher Rebbe Rashab wrote: “The main point: The leaders of this project are totally hostile to G-d and His Torah. Their desire and interest is to cast off the yoke of Torah and Mitzvos, substituting nationalism for Judaism. Recently one of their leaders circulated a statement publicly blaspheming Judaism and boldly stating that a Jew is not necessarily someone who observes the Torah and mitzvos, etc. They state that many mitzvos of the Torah are-may their mouth be shut–a disgrace to the Jewish people. They plan to instill these ideas in the young by controlling the school system. Their purpose is to inculcate them with negative attitudes toward G-d given Torah and mitzvos and substitute the banner of nationalism as their guiding force… The Zionists true desire is to sever the hearts of the Jewish people from the Torah and mitzvos, G-d forbid, and to debase in their eyes whatever is regarded as holy by our nation.”
“The agreement stipulates that the men will be drafted and will have to serve a full three-year term even if they were married before beginning their service.”
Is this not against the Torah of Shona Reshona, “v’shiemach es Ishto”???
“Is this not against the Torah of Shona Reshona, “v’shiemach es Ishto”???”
The Gemara tells us that that pasuk refers to milchemes reshus. For milchemes mitzvah we take even a “chosson meichedro and kallah meichupasah”.
Presumably, Defense of millions of Jews falls in the catagory of milchemes mitzvah.
To Hacham, you are concerned that it is against the Torah to be in the IDF for Shona Reshonah, the creation of the State of Israel was against the Torah and to serve in the IDF for anyone is against the Torah according to ALL Gedolim from the previous generation including the previous Lubavicher Rebbe’s the M”arshab and M”araytz
Serving in regular units (meaning scattered throughout the military), and even in places such as the Air Force and Navy (which in Israel are units of a unified armed forces, rather than separate organizations as in the USA)?????
Eating regular army food? Serving in sexually mixed units?
P.S. and one should note that unlike other Hasidim, Chabad doesn’t have to consult its Rebbe.
Are they gonna have to shave off their wiiiiiiiide beards in order to serve?
The Israeli Army have made a big mistake if they think that this agreement with one of the fringe elements of the Orthodox movement will lead to “the official support of some of Israel’s most highly respected rabbis and Haredi community leaders.” Chabad have sold them a pup.
I will ask the Rebbe
This whole agreement is red herring. The IDF don’t want chareidim in the army.
the Rebbe said not to give an inch- will they obey Barak when he commands them to tear down something in Yehuda and Shomron?
#6, In the IDF, a soldier may either shave every day, or never shave. I assume the Chabad soldiers will choose the latter.
#9, Never let the facts get in the way of a good story!
#10, Several Dati Leumi rabbonim hold this as well. Their talmidim in the IDF either ask not to participate in evacuations of Gaza/outposts, or go to make sure the residents are being treated with respect.