Yeshiva Student’s Criminal Case May Delay IDF Draft and Lead to Exemption

Moshe Steiner, a 21-year-old yeshiva student from Bnei Brak and relative of Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, head of the Mir Yeshiva, was handed over from the Lahav 433 police unit to the military police on Monday due to being wanted for desertion. Steiner was initially summoned for questioning at Lahav 433 on suspicion of involvement in a fraudulent driver's license scheme, where he allegedly facilitated unqualified individuals obtaining licenses by having others take the practical driving test on their behalf.

During his detention at Lahav 433, authorities discovered Steiner was wanted by the military police for desertion. He was subsequently transferred to military custody and sentenced to 20 days in a military prison. However, the ongoing criminal investigation against him could impact his IDF enlistment process. Open criminal proceedings may delay recruitment and, in some cases, lead to exemption from military service on legal grounds.

The case sparked controversy within the ultra-Orthodox community, with claims that police had previously promised not to hand over yeshiva students to military authorities during criminal investigations. Police denied these allegations, stating Steiner was summoned for serious criminal offenses and transferred to the military police only after confirming his desertion status.

In response to Steiner’s arrest, the Jerusalem faction led by Rabbi Tzvi Friedman plans a protest today at 5:15 PM at the entrance to Bnei Brak under the slogan "Shake the World." Organized transportation is arranged from ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods including Jerusalem, Ashdod, Modi'in Illit, and Beit Shemesh.

Steiner’s arrest marks the first detention of a yeshiva student in a relatively quiet period following the "bein hazmanim" break, with about 20 yeshiva students currently held in military prison, the lowest number in recent months. The decline in arrests is attributed to increased awareness among students to avoid military recruitment centers and a more lenient approach to granting exemptions. Meanwhile, the temporary law intended to freeze arrests faces harsh legal criticism for procedural flaws and conflicts with Knesset regulations and Basic Law.