Bennett Debates Torah Study, Military Service With Haredi Men and Bereaved Mother

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett engaged in a heated discussion with Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men and a bereaved mother regarding Torah study, military service, and mutual responsibility. The exchange, which took place at Tel Forest and was documented in a video Bennett posted to his YouTube channel, involved a Haredi man who asserted that Torah study is what sustains Israel. Bennett countered that while Torah is important, it does not guarantee protection from disasters, stating, "If everyone studies Torah, Hezbollah will not disappear from here." The participant insisted that Hezbollah would disappear and that his Torah study supports Bennett.

The conversation also touched upon public funding for Torah scholars. Bennett addressed a participant who identified as a "Kollel avrekh" (a married man studying Torah full-time), saying, "I say one thing, Rafi, we will not force anything. But you cannot force me to fund you." Another participant offered to forgo financial support, stating, "Without stipends, I give up."

Michal Hirsch Negri, mother of fallen reserve Major Roi Negri, who was killed on October 7th, shared her grief. She recounted that her 28-year-old son, a newlywed, was killed while serving in the elite Lotar counter-terrorism unit. "Neither prayers nor anything else helped when there were thousands of terrorists in the south, who needed to be stopped from reaching your home," she said. Bennett added, "Her son fell for your life."

Negri called for a change in societal approach, lamenting, "You didn't come and say, friends, let's change the contract between us for a moment, we need everyone under the stretcher. Even from a place of mutual responsibility." One participant blamed the October 7th attacks on insufficient adherence to Torah and a weakening of Judaism in the country, to which Bennett responded, "But there is more Torah than ever."

Despite the sharp disagreements, Bennett concluded the encounter by expressing affection for the participants, saying, "There is a real debate here, but I love you."