Sephardi Roshei Yeshivot are waging a battle against the new IDF draft law being pushed by the administration, hoping to prevent its approval by Shas and Yahadut Hatorah. The roshei yeshivot sent a stern letter to the Admorim serving on the Agudas Yisrael’s Moetzas Gedolei Torah, who have already instructed their Knesset representatives not to back the draft bill that was presented.

Among the roshei yeshivot signed to the letter are: HaGaon Chacham Moshe Tzadka (Rosh Yeshivat Porat Yosef), HaGaon Rav Tzvi Fadida (Rosh Yeshivat Otzrot Torah), Mekubal Rav David Batzri (Rosh Yeshivat HaShalom), Mekubal Rav Binayahu (Rosh Yeshivat Nahar Shalom), HaGaon HaRav Eliyahu Tufik (Rosh Yeshivat Be’er Yehuda), Hagaon Rav Yitzchak Bracha (Rosh Yeshivat Ateret Yitzchak).

In their letter they explain “the rosha Lapid is already celebrating the new law”, and he, Lapid, has threatened any attempts to change the draft bill will be addressed in petitions to the High Court of Justice. The rabbonim also point out that regarding the annual quotas, most bnei yeshivos who are taken into the military are Sephardim, citing a figure of 80-90%, “who are inducted and many lost and head to shmad”. They point out that unfortunately, the official quotas are filled primarily by Sephardi bnei Torah.

The rabbonim told the admorim they were pleased to hear of the opposition to the bill by the Torah Council.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)