Ultra-Orthodox Draft Dodgers in Military Prison Receive Religious Guide

The "Am Kadosh" organization, which supports ultra-Orthodox individuals evading mandatory IDF service, has published a special guide of religious directives for those imprisoned in military facilities. The introduction addresses the reader as a "prisoner of the world of Torah," framing their incarceration as a merit and an act of sanctifying God's name. A significant portion of the guide focuses on kashrut, or dietary laws. It warns prisoners not to trust assurances from commanders or duty officers regarding the kosher status of food, advising them to inspect each item individually. The guide suggests that vegetables should be considered as requiring the separation of terumah (a tithe). It advises against eating onions and garlic due to concerns they might have been cut with non-kosher knives, as their porous nature could absorb non-kosher residue. Specific recommendations are also provided for observing the Sabbath. The booklet prohibits entering solitary confinement due to automatically opening electric doors. If transferred between sections, prisoners are advised to wait for a commander to pass through the gate first, ensuring the sensors are activated. The guide notes that while prison staff mark prisoners present during roll calls, they permit attendance at these formations. If Kiddush (a prayer sanctifying the Sabbath or holidays) is recited by someone who publicly violates the Sabbath, prisoners are advised to perform Kiddush themselves if possible. Similar restrictions are discussed for communal prayers involving traditional but not strictly religious inmates. Regarding Torah study, the authors recommend that before studying with a non-religious Jew, the latter should be prompted to recite a traditional blessing before Torah study and wear a head covering. If the individual refuses to wear a kippah, teaching them Torah in that state is not advised. The publication concludes with a "Diary of Sanctifying the Name," encouraging prisoners to record their daily experiences in prison and the volume of religious texts studied. The compilers intend this diary to help preserve the memory of their time in confinement and their spiritual struggles.