Many hareidi-religious leaders have remained silent in the face of a recent push for hareidi Torah scholars to be forced to enlist in the IDF. However, the Eida Chareidis group is taking the opposite approach, and has planned a march on Monday in protest of the measure.
Hundreds of young hareidi boys are expected to participate in the march, which will remain within the hareidi neighborhoods of Meah Shearim and Geula in Jerusalem.
Rabbis from the Eida Chareidis will speak at the event.
The Eida Chareidis was criticized last week for involving children in its protests. The group defended itself, saying that the subject of IDF enlistment, “is truly a harsh decree for the entire Torah world, and in this case only the prayers of the young Torah-learning children ["tinokot shel beit rabban"] can help.”
In addition, hareidi activists have set up a protest tent opposite the Knesset. The protesters themselves have completed military or civilian national service.
The activists warned MKs that voting to impose sanctions on hareidi men who do not enlist will backfire. “Personal sanctions will undermine the trend toward hareidi integration in the IDF,” they told IDF Radio.