Speaking at his weekly Saturday night lecture, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef urged the government not to harm the standing of Yeshiva students. A government panel which will recommend legislation to replace the Tal Law, which regulates the draft of Yeshiva students, is likely to recommend large slashes in the number of students granted exemptions.

“The Yeshiva students uphold the Torah and give pleasure to G-d,” Rabbi Yosef said. “May G-d give wisdom to those who are dealing with this issue in the government, that they do not leave the path, that they do not withhold the Torah from those who seek to labor in it,” he added.