Rabbi Dov Lando: The draft law is "bad" for Torah

Rabbi Dov Landau, a prominent Lithuanian Haredi leader, has sharply criticized the current draft law proposal, opposing calls from the Gur Hasidic sect to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into passing it immediately.

In exclusive remarks obtained by Kikar HaShabbat, Rabbi Landau declared, “It’s forbidden to support the current draft law—it’s bad,” warning that it would “greatly harm the Torah world.” His stance marks a significant rift within the Haredi community as tensions rise over military conscription for yeshiva students.

The rebuke came as Gur representatives intensified efforts to rally Haredi politicians, threatening to exit the coalition if the law isn’t passed before the budget vote. Rabbi Landau, head of Beit Shemaya Yeshiva, dismissed this approach, arguing that the law’s flaws outweigh any potential gains. “Certain is preferable to doubtful,” he said, suggesting the current uncertainty about Israel’s future makes the flawed proposal even riskier. He also took a swipe at Gur’s tactics: “Pressuring the Prime Minister now is like saying, ‘Come hit me.’ We have no interest in that.”

Today, the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee debated the Security Service Law, exploring economic incentives to encourage yeshiva students to enlist despite rabbinical opposition. The Knesset Research and Information Center presented data showing a 55.8% employment rate for Haredi men in 2023 (up from 53.1% in 2022) and detailing property tax and housing aid programs, many of which benefit low-income Haredi households regardless of employment status.

Other Haredi factions, including Degel HaTorah and Shas, align with Rabbi Landau, arguing that pushing the law during wartime risks inflaming public anger against yeshiva students. They accuse Gur of prioritizing sectoral interests over the broader Haredi public, with one United Torah Judaism source telling Kikar HaShabbat, “Insisting on this law will cause irreversible damage.” Shas leaders expressed frustration with Gur’s Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf, noting a prior agreement to delay draft discussions until the war subsides.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s office is reportedly urging Haredi parties to back off, hinting that a better law could emerge post-war. The IDF plans to issue 14,000 enlistment orders to Haredi men in three phases starting March 13, adding pressure to the debate.

As we've seen before though, there can be no real real breakthrough with the draft law issue unless the Haredi rabbis get behind it, which is very unlikely.