Rav Shteinman Issues Scathing Condemnation of Passage of Chareidi Draft Bill

Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman was sharp in his response to the passage yesterday of the “Equal Sharing of the Burden Bill,” which applies the mandatory national service requirement on charedim in Eretz Yisroel. The bill was passed with an overwhelming majority in the Knesset, some two years after the High Court of Justice said the de facto waiver for charedi men was unconstitutional.

“May Hashem help us that in the near future, they will go to gehennom to endure tzaros,” said Rav Shteinman. “There should be no remembrance remaining of them. May their names and their memories be expunged.”

“We will ask Hakadosh Boruch Hu to ensure that they won’t, chas vechalilah, succeed in implementing all that they have decreed on Klal Yisroel in general and specifically on those learning Torah, who may now be subject to charges of a criminal nature.”

Sixty-five Members of Knesset voted in favor of the bill yesterday, with one opposed. The Israeli opposition parties, including several chareidi parties, boycotted the vote because, they said, they believed the government had abused Knesset procedure to ensure its passage.

Under the newly passed law, a rising number of chareidim would have to enlist in the IDF or carry out national service starting in 2017. If the conscription numbers are not met, the state would impose financial penalties on the chareidi community.

According to the law, yeshivos will be able to decide which of their talmidim would have to go to the military and face sanctions if they do not meet the draft quotas. The bill also gives the defense minister a mandate to defer enrollment until the age of 21, or in some cases 26, and to grant exemptions.

{Matzav.com Israel News Bureau}