The nation’s new draft law is a reality, as is the new IDF chareidi induction center. The new center was designed to provide chareidi inductees with a facility that will permit processing them into the military without compromising modesty standards.
However the center is not being praised by rabbonim shlita, quite the contrary. T he rabbonim have learned the future soldiers are shown videos that seek to persuade them to enter the military and abandon their yeshiva commitment. The military has come to the realization that rabbonim may instruct talmidim not to cooperate in any way, a position held today by HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Auerbach Shlita but not shared by Gedolei Hador in Bnei Brak. Therefore the military has given the order to eliminate the video room in the hope of gaining approval from the rabbonim along with the literature intended to also persuade soldiers like the video.
It now appears that beginning after yomtov anyone receiving a draft notice will have to report to Tel Hashomer to receive a deferment and remain in yeshiva or to enter the IDF or a state approved national service. As such, the chareidi induction center will become operational immediately after Pesach, at which time talmidim will have to head there to declare their status.
Ladaat reports that 100 talmidim will receive notices to report the week after Pesach. The report adds the army does not really expect to see all of them and will be pleased if half decide to comply with the order. In the coming weeks the center hopes to process 300 men daily.
Only chareidi soldiers will be assigned to the new induction center in the hope of creating a friendly atmosphere for talmidim reporting. The center will separate bnei yeshivos entirely from the Bakum center where all the other men and women are processed for military service.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
I seem to remember they also played propaganda videos to soldiers before the Gush Katif expulsion brainwashing the soldiers into believing that kicking their fellow Jews out of their homes and ruining their lives was somehow “helping” them and doing a service to the country. Guess they’re trying to see if their media team can score 2 for 2.
A move in the right direction, to provide a modest and proper environment.
The “reality” of a commitment to live by the Torah preceded the “delusion” of medinas israel and it’s decrees by 3326 years.
It will appeal to religious zionists (those who hold that creating and defending the Medinah is a mitsva) who wish to observe mitsvos seriously. Most of this group already serve in the IDF, and will be pleased to be better accomodated.
However as long the army is attempting to conscript anti-zionists (those who hold that the creation and defense of the medinah is prohibited by halacha), most hareidim will refuse to serve in the army, since even the ones who don’t mind the State of Israel won’t want to publicly appear less frum than the ones engaged in open resistance to the Medinah.
it’s confusing that the Gedolim are not unanimous in the proper reaction: should the boys show up or not? Obviously if no one shows up it will knock the law considerably. but if half show up, that’s divide and conquer and it won’t be good.