Rabbi David Laibel Criticizes IDF Draft Arrests as 'Malice and Foolishness' at Israeli Religious Thought Conference

At the seventh Nachalim Conference on Jewish Thought, held by Yeshivat Nachalim and the Geshar organization, leading rabbis and heads of yeshivas from both the Haredi and Religious Zionist communities gathered to discuss fundamental societal issues, including the contentious topic of military conscription.

Rabbi David Laibel, head of Yeshivat HaMetivta - Torah and Knowledge, opened by addressing the current pressures on the Haredi community, describing them as an "unbearable attack" and highlighting the humiliation felt by yeshiva students. He emphasized that the Haredi community acts from a deep ideological worldview often misunderstood by broader Israeli society. Laibel traced the rift between the state and the Haredi public to early Zionist attempts to uproot religious identity, contrasting this with integration seen in Haredi communities abroad. He explained that some Haredim view recognition of the state and its symbols, especially the IDF, as conflicting with halacha (Jewish law).

Criticizing the enforcement of the draft law, Laibel condemned the arrest of a few dozen yeshiva students amid tens of thousands of draft evaders as both "malice and foolishness," questioning the effectiveness of such actions. He also called for unity between Religious Zionists and Haredim, stating they share more in common with each other, particularly adherence to the Shulchan Aruch, than with secular right-wing Israelis.

In contrast, Rabbi Menachem Bombach of the Hasidic Midrasha Yeshiva in Beitar Illit presented a critical internal perspective, describing the Haredi community as suffering from "deep stagnation" and calling for allowing young Haredim access to general education alongside Torah study. He acknowledged the community's difficulty in grasping the pain experienced by Israeli society since the war and condemned extreme protests such as road blockades that endanger public welfare. Bombach also opposed the Torah Study Law, arguing it fosters antagonism toward religion, especially when tied to political deals, while noting an expected rise in Haredi enlistment in adapted service tracks.

The session concluded with Rabbi Shmuel Lorentz, head of Yeshivat Nachalim, emphasizing the conference's goal to foster respectful dialogue and understanding between the Haredi and Religious Zionist sectors amid polarized public discourse. Ilan Galdor, CEO of Geshar, echoed the importance of creating spaces for deep listening and discussion to bridge societal divides during challenging times.