WATCH: Haredi Rabbi's condemnation of Hesder Yeshivot rocks Religious World

A senior rabbi's scathing critique of Israel's Hesder yeshiva program, which combines Torah study with military service, has ignited fresh debate within Israel's religious community.

Rabbi Yehuda Amit, head of the Kiryat Malachi Yeshiva, claimed that Hesder yeshiva leaders who encourage students to join their programs instead of attending traditional yeshivas will face divine judgment as "inciters and corrupters."

"They may receive honors here on earth," Rabbi Amit said during a recently publicized talk, "but in heaven, they'll be asked to account for every page of Gemara their students didn't learn because they chose the Hesder path."

The controversy gained additional traction after Rabbi Amit referenced a surprising opinion piece by Rabbi David Pendel, himself a leader of the Hesder yeshiva Afikei Da'at in Sderot. Rabbi Pendel had written critically about the challenges religious soldiers face in secular military environments, particularly in elite units where he noted high rates of secularization.

"Who gave permission to send our youth into such environments?" Rabbi Amit demanded, recounting a decades-old conversation with a former Hesder teacher who, he claims, left the program after similar concerns.

The Hesder program, a cornerstone of Religious Zionist education in Israel, combines advanced Torah study with military service over a five-year period. While celebrated in many circles as successfully bridging religious observance with civic duty, it has faced ongoing criticism from more conservative Orthodox leaders who argue it compromises religious education.

Rabbi Amit acknowledged the sincerity of Hesder leaders, calling them "our brothers, precious Jews," but maintained they are "gravely mistaken" in their approach. He particularly criticized the common path of Hesder graduates continuing to university studies, suggesting this further distances them from intensive Torah learning.

Kikar HaShabbat contributed to this article.