A Haredi Yeshiva student ignored his IDF summons. Last night he was arrested and jailed.

A young Haredi man from Kiryat Yearim was arrested late Sunday night and sentenced to 14 days in military prison for desertion from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), igniting fresh tensions between ultra-Orthodox religious authorities and Israel's military establishment.

The student, who attends Meorot HaTorah Yeshiva in Kiryat Yearim, was detained by military police and promptly sentenced by a military officer without a full trial, according to his attorney, Menachem Shtauber. The lawyer is expected to meet with his client today to discuss potential legal strategies.

Religious Background and Circumstances

According to the "Agudat Bnei HaYeshivot," an organization advocating for yeshiva students' military exemptions that is providing support to the young man, the case represents a complex religious situation. The organization states that the student had recently become more religious and had transferred to an intensive Torah study program at Meorot HaTorah Yeshiva, where he was dedicating most of his daily hours to religious study.

"His rabbis and the yeshiva leadership have testified that he has become an outstanding student showing remarkable dedication to Torah learning," said a spokesperson for the organization, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case.

The arrest comes at a particularly contentious time, as debates over military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox students have intensified following increased military demands during the ongoing Gaza conflict.

Religious Leadership Mobilizing

In response to the arrest, prominent Sephardic Torah scholars and the leadership of Meorot HaTorah Yeshiva have announced plans for what they describe as a "determined struggle" to secure the student's release from military prison.

Rabbi Shimon Cohen, a representative of the yeshiva, told reporters, "We cannot accept that a young man who has chosen the path of Torah study should be treated as a criminal. His place is in the study hall, not behind bars."

The Agudat Bnei HaYeshivot organization further emphasized that Sephardic Torah scholars consider this case emblematic of their broader opposition to mandatory military service for religious students. "The main struggle against the draft decree is being waged over this case and similar ones," the organization stated in its press release.

The scholars reportedly stressed that even students who don't fit the traditional profile of lifelong yeshiva attendees should be protected from what they termed the "destructive frameworks of the army."

Legal and Political Context

This case emerges against the backdrop of longstanding tensions in Israeli society regarding military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox students. The issue has become particularly contentious since the October 7, 2023 attacks and subsequent military operations, which have increased pressure on the IDF to expand its recruitment base.

In February, Israel's Supreme Court ruled that the government must implement a more equitable conscription system, effectively limiting blanket exemptions for yeshiva students. The government was given until June 2025 to implement new legislation addressing the issue.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has previously stated that "national security requires broader participation in military service," while ultra-Orthodox political parties like Shas and United Torah Judaism have maintained that full-time Torah study is essential to Israel's spiritual protection.

Next Steps and Implications

Attorney Shtauber has indicated he will appeal the military's decision, potentially arguing that his client qualifies for religious exemption under existing legal frameworks. "The hasty nature of this detention and sentencing raises serious procedural questions that we intend to address immediately," Shtauber said.

Religious leaders are planning protest demonstrations outside the military prison where the student is being held, with calls for peaceful gatherings beginning tomorrow evening.

Political analysts suggest this case could further strain relations within Israel's governing coalition, where ultra-Orthodox parties hold significant influence. Professor Michal Levin of Hebrew University notes, "Each individual case like this becomes symbolic of the larger unresolved tension between religious autonomy and national security requirements."

The military has not yet commented publicly on the specific details of this case, citing privacy regulations regarding individual conscription matters. An IDF spokesperson would only confirm that "all desertion cases are handled according to standard military protocols."

As religious leaders mobilize in response to this detention, observers expect this case to potentially become a rallying point for broader discussions about the role of religious exemptions in Israeli society during times of heightened security concerns.

Behadrei Haredim contributed to this article.