The time has come: Haredi draft is essential for Israel’s equality and survival

The persistent exemption of Haredi men from mandatory military service in Israel is not merely an administrative quirk—it’s a gaping wound in the nation’s moral and security fabric. With Israel still reeling from the October 7, 2023, massacre and facing unrelenting threats, the refusal of the Haredi community to share the burden of national defense is unacceptable. True equality and security demand that Haredim serve alongside their fellow citizens in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Anything less undermines the Jewish state’s unity, resilience, and future.

A nation divided by unequal sacrifice

The numbers paint a stark picture of disparity. In 2022, only 15% of Haredi men enlisted in the IDF, leaving roughly 65,000 eligible men exempt annually, according to the Israel Democracy Institute. Fast forward to 2025: of the 10,000 draft orders sent to Haredim since July 2024, a mere 177—less than 2%—have enlisted. Since October 7, reservists have endured up to six tours of duty, with families torn apart and soldiers suffering from horrific traumas pushed back onto the front lines simply because the IDF does not have enough man power. This imbalance is not just unfair—it’s a betrayal of the collective ethos that has sustained Israel through decades of peril. Imagine the potential if those same eligible Haredi men were mobilized instead of excused. The IDF isn’t asking for charity; it’s begging for manpower to protect every Israeli. Exempting Haredim isn’t a luxury—it’s a liability.

Consider the human cost: over 1,200 Israelis perished on October 7, with 251 taken hostage. The war in Gaza and threats from Hezbollah, Iran, and the Houthis have stretched the IDF thin. Yet, an estimated 82,000 Haredi men aged 18-28 remain sidelined, cloistered in yeshivas while others fight and die. This is not equality. This is privilege masquerading as piety.

Israel’s survival hinges on a robust military, and the post-October 7 reality has obliterated any argument for selective service. The IDF has stated it can absorb 4,800 Haredi recruits by July 2025, 5,760 by July 2026, and unlimited numbers thereafter. Defense Minister Israel Katz’s plan to send 14,000 more draft orders by May—5,000 on March 20, 5,000 on April 6, and 4,000 on May 4—acknowledges this need, yet the projected 3,000 enlistments fall woefully short of the 4,800 target. Why? Due to extreme Haredi resistance and weak enforcement.

Torah and service: A false dichotomy

Haredi leaders argue that Torah study is their contribution to Israel’s defense, that serving in the IDF will threaten their religious observance and G-d forbid push them to secularity. This claim is entirely false and nothing short of an back handed excuse to avoid service. Religious Zionist soldiers—many from Hesder yeshivas—prove daily that Torah and military service can coexist. Units like Netzah Yehuda, Tomer, and Hetz cater to religious needs, offering kosher food, Shabbat observance, and rabbinic guidance. On January 5, the IDF launched the Hasmonean Brigade, drafting 50 Haredi soldiers and 100 reservists, a “significant milestone” hailed by the military. Mendel Rata, a Hassidic recruit, shared his training updates on X, blending faith with duty. If they can do it, why can’t others?

The Torah itself demands collective responsibility. “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh”—all of Israel is responsible for one another—rings hollow when Haredi men dodge the draft while others bleed. Historical precedent agrees: King David, a Torah scholar, fought battles, not just studied them.

Women must serve—What about Haredi men?

Israeli women, including religious ones, serve mandatory terms, facing logistical and halakhic challenges with grit. Over 30% of IDF personnel are female, many in combat support roles critical to military operations. If women—often mothers and wives—can balance faith, family, and service, why are Haredi men excused? How are we one of the only countries in the world to have mandatory service for women, yet those deemed 'religious' remain except from the law. The double standard is glaring and is an embarrassment for a country that prides itself on equality and social progression.

Economic and social fallout

The draft exemption isn’t just a security issue—it’s an economic time bomb. Haredim, now 12% of Israel’s population, rely heavily on state subsidies, with many men shunning the workforce for yeshiva life. A June 2024 investigation by Israel Hofsheet found 20% of draft-eligible Haredim enrolled in state-funded yeshivas that “promote evasion” from the military. This drains public funds while others toil—reservists miss work, families strain, and the middle class buckles. Integrating Haredim into the IDF or national service could unlock their potential, easing the tax burden and fostering social cohesion.

The October 7 wake-up call

The Hamas onslaught on October 7 was a brutal reminder: no Israeli is immune to attack. The 60% of Jews who, in 2022, told the Israel Democracy Institute they want Haredim drafted, now see it as existential post-October 7. When terrorists don’t discriminate, neither should our defense.

Katz’s plan aims for 50% of Haredi 18-year-olds drafted by 2032, starting with 4,800 in 2025. But Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon warned on January 23 that this falls short of constitutional equality. Why wait seven years when the IDF can take unlimited recruits by 2026? Gradualism is a dodge—full conscription, with sanctions for evasion, is the only just path.

Haredi leadership’s moral failure

Haredi rabbis like Sholom Ber Sorotzkin, who led anti-draft chants at a wedding, cling to both isolation and control. “We won’t show up at their recruitment offices,” they sang, defying the Supreme Court’s June 2024 ruling ending exemptions. Shas leader Aryeh Deri threatened to topple Netanyahu’s coalition on January 28 if exemptions aren’t secured. This intransigence isn’t piety—it’s selfishness. Integration strengthens, not weakens, Jewish identity. Torah study thrives in a secure Israel, not a vulnerable one.

Unity through shared burden

The IDF isn’t just a military—it’s Israel’s melting pot. Secular, religious, Druze, and Bedouin serve together, forging bonds that transcend politics. Haredim’s absence robs them of this unity. When you have soldiers from all faiths and backgrounds sacrificing years of 'civillian' life to put their lives on the line to protect the country, you cannot allow one group to dictate that they are the exception to such a burden that Israeli society must carry as a whole.

Conclusion: No more excuses

Israel’s enemies don’t care about Haredi exemptions—rockets don’t skip yeshivas. The draft isn’t about secularizing Haredim; it’s about survival. The public demands action. Katz’s “one-sided” notices, won’t cut it—equality and security require all hands on deck.

Haredim must serve—not as a favour, but as a duty. To the fallen, the fighting, and the future, we owe nothing less than a united Israel, where every citizen defends the homeland. The time for exemptions is over; the time for shared sacrifice is now.