The ultra-Orthodox community in Israel has mobilized to raise nearly $100 million in the United States following a High Court of Justice order to halt public funding for yeshivas whose students avoid conscription into the IDF.
Leading this massive fundraising effort are Rabbi Dov Lando, 94, and Moshe Hillel Hirsch, 87, who head the non-Hasidic Lithuanian Haredi community. The funds, while insufficient for long-term needs, are intended to provide temporary relief to the affected yeshivas, easing budgetary pressures as they adjust to the new financial reality, as reported by Haaretz.
The fundraising drive was prompted by the High Court's March decision, which ruled that the state could no longer finance yeshivas for around 50,000 students eligible for military draft, following the expiration of exemptions for those engaged in religious studies. On Tuesday, the court further mandated that the army begin enlisting recruits from the ultra-Orthodox community, which traditionally resists military service on religious grounds.
According to Haaretz, the High Court's funding ban, effective since April, has already cut off NIS 270 million ($72 million) for this year, and is projected to create a NIS 400 million ($106 million) deficit in 2025. The financial strain may worsen if funding for daycares for children of ultra-Orthodox students is also halted.
The ultra-Orthodox, particularly the Lithuanian factions, are among the staunchest opponents of mandatory military service. Their leaders have been actively working to pass legislation extending draft exemptions, facing significant opposition even within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition.
Meanwhile, the IDF is preparing to conscript around 3,000 Haredi men from the 63,000 eligible under the new ruling. Special conscription centers are being set up to accommodate their religious requirements, including gender-segregated facilities and adherence to kosher standards.
The High Court's decision has intensified the debate over the role of the ultra-Orthodox in sharing the national burden of military service. Critics argue that their exemptions place an unfair strain on other segments of society, especially as the IDF grapples with manpower shortages during ongoing conflicts.
It seems like the government's longstanding policy of military exemptions for the Haredi community might be coming to a close, and with it, a new wave of fierce protests and draft dodging.