Yoni Goldstein argues that Israel should encourage voluntary ultra-Orthodox military service while preserving Torah study, rather than forcing conscription. The debate over Haredi enlistment has intensified since October 7, with Israel facing perpetual existential war.
Historical Context of the Exemption
During Israel's War of Independence in 1948, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion exempted approximately 400 ultra-Orthodox scholars from army service. This was a humanitarian act to preserve the ultra-Orthodox community, nearly destroyed by the Holocaust. The exemption, known as "torato u'manuto" (his Torah is his sole occupation), allowed yeshiva students to forego military service for religious studies.
In the late 1970s, Prime Minister Menachem Begin removed caps on deferments, which had been limited to 800. In 1998, Israel's Supreme Court ruled torato u'manuto invalid, leading to the 2002 Tal Law granting all yeshiva students exemptions. The Tal Law was struck down in 2012, and in 2024 the Supreme Court ruled ultra-Orthodox men must be conscripted.
Current Stalemate
More than 60,000 yeshiva students currently do not serve in the Israeli army. Successive governments have struggled to resolve the issue, with massive public protests on both sides. Meanwhile, Israel's need for soldiers has grown since October 7, with young conscripts and older reservists exhausted by perpetual conflict.
Goldstein notes that the Religious Zionist movement, less than 15% of the population, provides approximately 40% of infantry officer graduates, successfully combining Torah study and military service. He argues Israel should encourage similar voluntary integration for the Haredi community rather than forcing conscription.
A Path Forward
Goldstein advocates for preserving Torah study while encouraging voluntary service, avoiding a confrontation that neither side can afford. He emphasizes that the ultra-Orthodox have an essential role in the Jewish future, and Israel must find a way to integrate them without coercion.
