The Vaad HaYeshivos—the backbone of coordination between bnei Torah and the Defense Ministry regarding deferments—has found itself frozen out of the 2025 state budget, leaving the Torah world reeling.
During a fiery session in the Knesset Finance Committee, Amos Sayada, head of the Education Ministry’s Torah Institutions Division, confirmed what many had feared: the Vaad HaYeshivos has seen its government funding dry up, a direct consequence of the High Court’s 2024 ruling demanding the draft of lomdei Torah.
For decades, the Vaad HaYeshivos has operated as the lifeline for talmidim navigating the bureaucracy of army deferments, with strong government support. In 2023 alone, it received a whopping NIS 4.46 million (approximately $1.2 million)—two-thirds of its budget—to ensure the uninterrupted limud of tens of thousands of yeshiva bochurim.
Yet despite billions being funneled into coalition agreements—including NIS 8 million ($2.2 million) allocated for groups managing deferments—the Vaad has inexplicably been left out in the cold. While sources in the Education Ministry initially indicated that funding would flow if a law was passed to secure the exemptions, the situation remains deadlocked.
In response to direct questioning, Sayada confirmed that not a shekel of the earmarked funds would be heading to the Vaad HaYeshivos. The ramifications of this decision are enormous, as the Vaad has been steadfast in guiding bochurim not to report for enlistment.
“The daas Torah is clear: Do not report under any circumstances and do not cooperate,” the Vaad instructed a concerned bochur via email. “Of course, according to the law, there is an obligation to report, but these are the instructions of the gedolim.”
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7 Responses
Now of every religious Jew voted for Eretz hakodash in the zoa election there would be a billion dollars extra.
Before the self-hating Jews show up to comment how happy they are, just remember that all the Arabs continue to get funding for all sorts of things you wouldn’t even dream of, all while not participating in any army or national service. But they do continue to terrorize us on the government’s dime. So as long as you’re not complaining about that you are just as bad as them if you are joyful when the yeshivas are hurting
Didn’t the Gedolim raise over 100 million dollars ? What exactly is the problem ?
Can I ask a question the govt recently cut off over $100 million of funding to yeshivos and Bh they were able to navigate it this is about one percent of that how is this a storm brewing
Please enlighten
Why is it “inexplicable” that the funding has been cut off? Israel is at war and there’s an enormous shortage of soldiers!
Their funding should be cut off. They are counseling young men to defy the law and shirk their responsibility to Am Yisrael.
Bite the hand that feeds you and when the hand stops feeding you you say it’s “inexplicable”?
That’s slanted reporting!