Leading Israeli Rabbis Clarify Guidelines for Yeshiva Students Regarding Draft Enforcement

Following Kikar HaShabbat's earlier exposure this evening (Monday) regarding the detention of three students from a prestigious yeshiva at Ben Gurion Airport and the arrest of two yeshiva students from other institutions, clear instructions for yeshiva students will be published tomorrow in the Lithuanian journal under the direction of leading rabbis.

In the left part of the front page of 'Yated Ne'eman', the directive from the leading rabbis will be published in a prominent frame, stating: "Due to the problematic situation in which many yeshiva students find themselves regarding the legality of their status with military authorities, our rabbinical leaders have instructed that every yeshiva student should not enter border crossings without clarifying their status with the 'Yeshiva Committee' offices, and it is their duty to avoid becoming known to the authorities."

A source in the 'Yeshiva Committee' who spoke with Kikar HaShabbat this evening, said: "In the past month, we've been receiving at least 200 inquiries daily, especially from parents who want to go on Passover vacation with their children, or who want to attend family celebrations."

"It's very important," the source emphasizes, "that students update themselves through the 'Yeshiva Committee' where there is more reliable information than at the Population Authority. In general, the recommendation is not to leave the country, but if one must leave, it's better to check first with the Yeshiva Committee."

The aid organizations 'Agudat Bnei HaYeshivot', 'Ezram U'Maginam', and 'L'maancha' continue to emphasize that one should not rely on information over time and should check the information the day before the flight and not take risks. Any student who books a flight should take into account that he might get into trouble and there won't be any way to help him if he is arrested at the airport.

As previously reported, it was revealed earlier on Kikar HaShabbat that three students from one of the most prestigious yeshivas in the Lithuanian public were detained during the afternoon hours at Ben Gurion Airport on their way to visit the graves of righteous figures in Europe.

Kikar HaShabbat learned that the students arrived at the security checkpoint at the airport, but there they were asked to stand aside until a security officer arrived. When the security officer arrived, he detained them for questioning and informed them that they had an exit ban from the country issued by the military, because they did not have an arrangement regarding military service.

After verifying that the students understood his intention that they could not leave the country and fly, the official released them to their homes and they were forced to return to the yeshiva, losing the cost of their flight.

It should be noted that this is a precedent against which warnings have been issued all along, that students would not be able to leave the country, not even for family events, celebrations, or prayers at the graves of righteous figures.

The students told Kikar HaShabbat: "Before the trip, we turned the world upside down checking if we had any problems leaving the country, including at the Population and Immigration Authority, and there was no exit ban on our names, and only at the security check did we suddenly discover that there was such an order. Besides the financial damage and great distress caused through no fault of our own, we thank God that at least we weren't arrested."

The students are represented by attorney Menachem Stauber, who has extensive experience in this field. In a conversation with Kikar HaShabbat about the case, he warns: "Yeshiva students who have received summons to appear at recruitment offices or conscription orders need to have checks conducted by authorized officials before leaving the country. This case joins a series of cases in recent months where yeshiva students are arrested or detained at the airport before leaving the country."

A senior activist involved in conscription issues told Kikar HaShabbat: "These students are very lucky that they weren't arrested, and this teaches about the authorities' trend and a lesson for the future not to arrest yeshiva students so as not to turn the country into ruins."

Meanwhile, another student from "Beit Yitzchak" Yeshiva in Sanhedria - where they study half a day and work half a day - was arrested at the airport while on his way to Rabbi Nachman of Breslov's grave in Uman. Currently, several lawyers are trying to handle the case and assist in his release.

Earlier today, it was revealed that a yeshiva student was arrested last weekend by traffic police and sentenced to 14 days. Agudat Bnei HaYeshivot hired a lawyer for him, and the yeshiva is sending threats to the police that they will launch a determined struggle if he is not released.

The arrested yeshiva student is a student at Meorot HaTorah Yeshiva in Telz-Stone - a yeshiva that has existed for decades, headed by Rabbi Regosnitzky and Rabbi Greinman, and is intended for students becoming more religious.

The 21-year-old student was arrested, as mentioned, during the last weekend during Purim celebrations, when traffic police stopped him for a routine check and then his name came up in the system as a student who has been a deserter for a long period, and on the spot, he was summoned for an immediate hearing.

When the student arrived for a hearing with an officer in the traffic police, the military police were waiting for him there, and he was immediately sent to a military court, where he was sentenced to 14 days in military prison.