Finance Minister and Religious Zionism party leader Bezalel Smotrich responded today (Sunday) to former Sefardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's statement that even those who do not learn Torah should not enlist in the army.
In his response, Smotrich said that "military service in the defense of the State of Israel is a holy mitzvah" or religious commandment and that "other statements are a distortion of the Torah and harm the security of the state.
He further said that "after decades in which the Haredi public did not participate in this important mitzvah, we are committed to a great correction on the matter and are acting with determination to bring it about.
"This correction obligates both the Haredi public and the army to engage in a great change and with God's help we will do so responsibly and with determination."
