Hasidic Yeshiva Student Released After Wrongful Military Jail Detention Over Bureaucratic Error

An urgent and tense situation unfolded over less than 24 hours at Israel's Military Prison 10, culminating in the rapid release of Moshe Reuven Verdiger, a prominent Hasidic yeshiva student from the Gur community. Verdiger was mistakenly imprisoned for 20 days on charges of draft evasion due to a severe bureaucratic failure despite having a full medical exemption from military service.

The ordeal began when Verdiger, who suffers from a serious lifelong medical condition, submitted all required medical documents at the recruitment office and was officially granted a full exemption. However, he was later summoned again to complete "technical paperwork." Upon arrival, he was unexpectedly labeled a draft evader, apparently because his exemption data had not been properly entered into the military computer system. Despite presenting his medical evidence to a military judge, the exemption was not recognized, resulting in his incarceration.

Following his imprisonment, senior Gur community activists, including Pinchas Kovitz, Moti Babchik, and Rabbi Shimon Shisha, launched an emergency campaign, exerting intense pressure on top military and defense officials. Knesset member Yitzhak Goldknopf was informed and warned that if Verdiger was not released within 24 hours, the Gur community would stage a massive protest at the prison.

The prison commander, recognizing the grave error and Verdiger’s critical health condition, arranged for a military medical expert to examine Verdiger in custody. The doctor immediately confirmed the life-threatening allergy and approved the exemption. The exemption data was then entered into the system, and an urgent appeal was filed against the sentence. Less than a day after his arrest, Verdiger was officially released and reunited with his family amid widespread relief.

Officials involved acknowledged the serious mistake and the potential for a major crisis within the ultra-Orthodox sector, praising the determination of the community activists who prevented a disaster.