Haredi Yeshiva Student Shares Personal Struggles as a 'Draft Dodger' Unable to Travel Abroad

Photographer Shlomi Cohen encountered Nehorai, a young man studying in a large yeshiva, who is classified as a "draft dodger" due to dedicating 16 hours a day to Torah study. Nehorai opened up about the heavy personal price he pays for this status, yet he accepts it with joy. He described his daily routine starting at 7:30 AM with three study sessions until 11 AM, emphasizing the satisfaction and spiritual fulfillment it brings.

Despite the challenges, Nehorai explained that being labeled a draft dodger does not heavily impact his daily life. However, it has caused a painful situation for him personally: his family plans to travel abroad for the first time since his mother passed away three years ago from cancer, but he cannot join them because of his draft-dodger status. While he is happy for his family to enjoy the trip, he remains in Israel alone.

Responding to criticism that Torah students should not travel abroad, Nehorai argued that some do need to travel and that families often do so, which does not contradict their religious commitments. His story highlights the complex realities faced by thousands of Haredi yeshiva students classified as draft dodgers in Israel.