Deputy Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman and MK Moshe Gafne met on Wednesday, 14 Kislev 5773 with senior Defense Ministry officials to discuss the drafting of talmidei yeshivos. The two were referring to complaints received from talmidim in different cities in Israel who reported to induction centers to complete forms and/or take a physical exam. They described what they viewed as “the horrors” of the visit.

The chareidi representatives called upon ministry officials to establish guidelines that will safeguard the talmidim, demanding an acceptable level of tznius for beginners. They detailed that a student in yeshiva lives in a protected world, one foreign from the outside influences that may be viewed as acceptable in the general world, but a far cry from what is acceptable in a chareidi world. Therefore, they explained the ministry must establish a safe place for the talmidim if they expect chareidi leaders to cooperate with the IDF as efforts to draft chareidim continue.

HaMevaser reports the ministry representatives meeting with Litzman and Gafne showed genuine concern and exhibited a true desire to find a comfort zone that will be viewed as acceptable to the rabbonim and chareidi tzibur at large.

The two explained the solution must be immediate and they will continue carefully monitoring the situation. In addition, they still feel that l’chatchila, a talmid who declares he will be learning Torah fulltime should not be drafted but left to sit in beis medrash and learn, and they will work towards a return to that situation as it existed prior to the expiration of the Tal Law.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)