While chareidim are unlikely to be seen reporting to IDF induction centers after Tal Law expires, what is certain is the High Court decision, will shift government priorities. While Iran and its accompanying threat is not being removed from the national government’s top priority list, legislating a law to replace the Tal Law has now taken a prominent place alongside top priority issues for without such a reality, the coalition will crumble as the chareidi parties break away in protest. Yahadut HaTorah’s Moshe Gafne immediately after hearing of the ruling announced there will be no such occurrence, stating “those who sit and learn will continue sitting and learning”.

Speaking with Kol Chai Radio, Yahadut HaTorah’s Yisrael Eichler questioned the validity of the court’s decision, declaring the law “illegal”, pointing out that since the nation does not have a constitution, a law passed by the Knesset is legal even if the court does not like it. He too stated “Those learning Torah will continue, for this is what the world rests on”.

Vice Premier (Likud) Moshe Ya’alon stated “we must find a way to integrate chareidim into taking part of the security burden and then into the workplace, but this must be accomplished through dialogue”.

Shas leader and deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai stated he and the prime minister have met and will be meeting towards finding an appropriate solution.

In his column in the daily Yisrael HaYom, Roy Lachmanowitz correctly points out that the court’s ruling will result in bringing the issue of chareidi service in the IDF to the top of the national agenda, questioning “What does the average person really know or understand about the chareidi community, almost nothing other than they are parasites, they don’t serve in the military, they don’t teach core subjects, and they event managed to manipulate the criteria for state housing in their favor”.

However, the chareidi community has actually undergone a revolution. There are many more men heading out to the workplace and seeking an academic degree, and not just a teaching degree he points out. He explains the tzibur at large is unaware of this, as well as the fact that more chareidim are serving due to programs such as Nachal Chareidi, Shachar and other military programs, not to mention  the unparalleled chessed organizations operated by the chareidi sector, including the war against traffic accidents and road deaths.

Lachmanowitz ponders the situation, question what occurred to bring us to the current situation. He is confident that in the coming months, the dialogue and discussions that will follow will lift much of the veil of secrecy and the public will learn just who the chareidim are and what they do.

He draws an analogy from the decision by the Tel Aviv City Council to operate public buses on Shabbos when in fact, the mayor and other elected officials realize this will never occur since the decision requires approval from government agencies that are not about to give a green light for such a policy.

For some he feels it simply presents an opportunity to renew the anti-chareidi war which has been buried he feels, concluding with a call to the chareidi public to take advantage of the current situation before “the train pulls out of the station”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)