Haredi Journalist Shari Roth Defends Son's Yeshiva Study as National Service

Haredi journalist Shari Roth addressed controversy over a video she posted last week in which she expressed pride in her son, a draft dodger studying in a yeshiva, calling him a "soldier in the army of God" and asserting he performs an important service for the Jewish state. In an interview with Channel 12 News on Sunday, Roth clarified that she does not equate her son with combat soldiers but considers him part of the roughly 50 percent of young men who do not serve in combat roles. She emphasized that serious Torah study from morning until night constitutes a form of national service, a belief shared by many in Israel.

When asked if she compares her son's service to that of combat soldiers defending the country, Roth reiterated her view that Torah study is a meaningful contribution. She also distinguished her experience as a mother from that of mothers of combat soldiers, expressing respect and admiration for them but noting she does not share their fears of nighttime knocks on the door. Roth placed her son within the non-combatant group and maintained her stance that his yeshiva study is a legitimate form of serving the state.

The interview highlights ongoing debates in Israeli society about the role of Haredi men who avoid military service to study religious texts, and the broader question of what constitutes national service in Israel today.