Jerusalem's Edah HaChareidis Calls for Protests Against Upcoming Haredi Draft

Ahead of the upcoming draft summons for Haredi youth scheduled for Sunday, the Edah HaChareidis rabbinical court in Jerusalem issued a strong letter urging the Haredi community to protest and resist enlistment. The letter, titled "The Youth Have Gone Captive," condemns the planned conscription of many Torah-observant young men into the Israeli army, referring to it as a decree by "wicked" authorities. It calls on community members, especially those able to participate, to demonstrate outside recruitment offices and to actively persuade young men not to report for military service.

The letter emphasizes the spiritual and communal imperative to oppose the draft, warning that those who enlist risk losing their way and distancing themselves from Torah life. It appeals to the public to stand firm in defense of Jewish religious values and expresses hope for divine intervention to end what it calls a government of evil. The Edah HaChareidis and its supporters anticipate intense protests around the Jerusalem recruitment office on Sunday, coinciding with the Torah portions Nitzavim-Vayelech.

This call to action reflects ongoing tensions between the Israeli government’s military conscription policies and segments of the ultra-Orthodox community who seek exemptions to continue full-time Torah study. The Edah HaChareidis, a prominent ultra-Orthodox rabbinical authority, remains a central figure in organizing resistance to the draft among its followers.