ULTRAORTHODOX ANGER AT NEW LAW THAT MAKES CONSCRIPTION MANDATORY FOR THEIR BIBLICAL STUDENTS

 

Haredim Jews have enjoyed exemptions for decades to the conscription laws that dictates army training to all Isreali citizens, regardless of gender.

Now that privilege has been removed, and Ultra Orthodox in Israel are fuming.  

Most Israelis, men and women, are obligated to serve, and have to join by 18 years old. They usually serve in one of the most dangerous and continuously unstable West Bank and other conflict areas of the immediate region.  They all must serve a minimum of three years. 

Of the estimated 8,000 students in seminars now, only 1,800 would retain the exemption, those who are considered luminaries in their field, or biblical scholars. 

The Ultra Orthodox legislator have hit back with accusations of abuse by the government, and cruelty, to boot.  They contend that those students must devote their life to the study of sacred scripts and cannot interrupt their activity to join the army. 

In a sense, the Orthodox legislators say that the removal of the exemption for all biblical scholars is a delegitimization of their studies and status as scholars.

3,500 Haredim are already serving in the military.  The government also produced a study that showed that Haredim who serve in the military find work after the service at the rate of 70%, while only 45% of those who do not go on to find employment after finishing their studies. 

Source : Haaretz/ 7.7.13