Haredi Leaders Justify Draft Evasion Citing Biblical Precedent and Modern Context
Tensions around the draft evasion of Haredi yeshiva students have resurfaced following a recent Torah reading that included Moses' rebuke of the tribes of Gad and Reuben. These tribes requested to settle east of the Jordan River and avoid battle, prompting Moses to criticize them for discouraging the rest of Israel from entering the Promised Land. This rebuke has been invoked by some to question the morality of draft evasion today.
However, Haredi leaders and the Lithuanian daily Yated Neeman have responded by arguing that the biblical context differs fundamentally from the modern Israeli military situation. They claim that the wars Moses referred to were commanded by God and led by Joshua and the high priest Eleazar, unlike today's secular Israeli army under Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and a government they consider apostate. Therefore, they assert that Haredi draft evasion is morally justified.
Rabbi Shaul Lerner of Yated Neeman emphasized that the "true army" of Israel today consists of Torah scholars who spiritually protect the nation, not the secular military. He also questioned how this "army of truth" failed to prevent recent deadly terrorist attacks, implicitly challenging the state's defense capabilities.
On the other hand, Rabbi Yehoshua Peper, head of the "Iyun" institute and editor of the journal "Tzarich Iyun," who served in the IDF, highlighted the enduring moral weight of Moses' rebuke. He noted that the verse "Your brothers will go to battle, but you will stay here" resonates strongly in contemporary debates about Haredi military service, raising questions about fairness and shared national burden.
The Haredi community often cites their Levitical tribal status as a historical exemption from military service, noting that the Levites served in religious and educational roles and only fought in emergencies. While the Levites were a small minority in biblical times, the Haredi population now constitutes about 15% of Israel's Jewish population, complicating the exemption's applicability.
This ongoing debate reflects deep divisions over military service, religious identity, and national responsibility within Israeli society, with no immediate resolution in sight.
