Poll Questions Haredi Draft Exemption Claims
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
A Tel Aviv University poll of 404 Haredim found that one-third of Haredi men aged 18-24 are employed, challenging claims that religious study necessitates exemption from IDF service. While 62.7% believe Haredim should not serve, the employment figures suggest other factors may be at play. The study also revealed strong adherence to rabbinical authority over state law and medical advice, and a significant generational decline in military service.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A poll found one-third of Haredi men aged 18-24 are employed, questioning draft exemption claims.
- 62.7% of Haredi respondents believe they should not serve in the IDF.
- 90% of Haredi respondents prioritize Torah law over state law.
- A third of Haredi men aged 55 served in the army, compared to nearly zero today.
- 66.3% of Haredi voters would follow rabbinical voting instructions.
- 65.9% of Haredi respondents would follow a rabbi's medical advice over a doctor's.
A new Tel Aviv University poll challenges the argument that Torah study necessitates full-time dedication, justifying exemption from military service for Haredim. The survey found that one-third of Haredi men aged 18-24 are employed. While 62.7% believe Haredim should not serve in the IDF, and 90% prioritize Torah law over state law, the employment figures contradict the claim that religious study is the sole reason for draft refusal. The study, commissioned by the Institute for the Study of Israel and Judaism and led by Mina Zemach of the Midgam group, revealed that 11.2% of Haredi men aged 18-24 work full-time, 17.1% part-time, and 5.5% are self-employed. Among Haredi women in the same age group, 54% work full-time.
According to the researchers, these findings undermine the Haredi assertion that exemption from military service is solely due to the demands of Torah study, as a significant portion of young Haredi men are engaged in work. Only 1.4% of respondents fully believe Haredi should serve in the IDF, while 62.7% are convinced they should not. Approximately 20% stated they would not enlist even if rabbis instructed them to, with men showing a higher rate of opposition to conscription than women.
Professor Uvya Shavit, who heads the Institute for the Study of Israel and Judaism, noted the deep-rooted opposition to military service within the Haredi community. He highlighted a striking generational shift: about a third of Haredi men aged 55 reported having served in the army, a figure now close to zero. Shavit described this as a transformation over one generation, where a segment of the population that served has produced a succeeding generation largely unwilling to serve.
The poll also addressed other aspects of Haredi society. A vast majority of Haredi voters (66.3%) stated they would follow rabbinical directives on voting, even for a less preferred party. Regarding legal authority, 90% believe Torah law should take precedence over state law in cases of conflict. The Haredi community shows low recognition of the judicial system's authority (12%), and less than 50% recognize the authority of the government, police, or army. In medical matters, 65.9% would unconditionally follow a rabbi's opinion over a specialist doctor's in complex treatment scenarios, with only 4.5% prioritizing the doctor's recommendation.
The survey included 404 self-identified Haredim, with a margin of error of 4.9%.
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