Karlin Hasidic Authority Rules on Draft Dodgers Winning Pilgrimage Flight Lottery

Rabbi David Brizel, a prominent halachic authority from the Karlin Hasidic dynasty, issued a detailed ruling regarding a complex question about draft dodgers who won a flight ticket in a lottery organized by Karlin institutions. The lottery, announced by the Stoliner Karlin Center in Israel, offered a special prize: a flight to visit the grave of Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin in Volodymyr, Ukraine, ahead of his yahrzeit on the 22nd of Tammuz.

The issue arose because some yeshiva students, classified as draft dodgers due to unresolved military status, are legally barred from leaving Israel and thus cannot use the flight prize. This sensitive question was brought to Rabbi Brizel, who responded with a halachic ruling and clear guidelines to be set before the lottery takes place.

Rabbi Brizel emphasized that lottery rules must be established before the drawing, not afterward. He proposed a practical solution that preserves the spiritual intent of the lottery while accommodating those unable to travel legally. If a winner can legally fly but chooses not to, they may transfer the prize to another person who will pray on behalf of all donors. If the winner is a draft dodger barred from flying, they may either wait to travel in future years when possible or convert the prize into immediate monetary compensation. The center will ensure another emissary prays and intercedes for all contributors.

This ruling balances the spiritual goals of the pilgrimage lottery with the legal restrictions affecting some participants, providing a fair and respectful resolution for all involved.