Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef:
'Even those who don't study Torah shouldn't enlist'
The former chief rabbi claimed that even those who are not yeshiva students should avoid military service. The Prime Minister's Office condemned the statement.
The former chief rabbi claimed that even those who are not yeshiva students should avoid military service. The Prime Minister's Office condemned the statement.

All Divine revelations to the patriarchs dealt with establishing the people of Israel – that they would multiply, inherit the Land, and bring blessing to all peoples. Blessed are the soldiers fighting with self-sacrifice and defending the people and the Land. The Levites and priests participated in Israel’s wars.

Following reports that haredi parties will offer ultimatum to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, haredi party leader MK Moshe Gafni clarifies: 'Goal of our opponents is to harm Torah learners, push us to leave coalition.'

Mishpacha newspaper reports that the haredi parties plan to submit two bills together - the Draft Law and, alongside it, a law to dissolve the Knesset.

Haredi soldiers certified as first-level technicians on F-16 fighter jets to serve at Air Force operational center.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is demanding that any Draft Law include a limit on the number of yeshiva students exempted from army service, report says. 'She knows we won't agree, she's trying to bring down the government.'

Likud minister says October 7 proved there is no avoiding the conscription of haredi men to the IDF, but it must be done with sensitivity and avoid causing fear of 'secularization.'

Faction leaders from the United Torah Judaism party say they won't allow the judicial reform to proceed unless the Draft Law is passed.

Former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef expresses to the Gerrer Rebbe concern for Sephardic-haredi youth in Israel's periphery, who he says are likely to be drafted into the IDF first.

Attorney Yair Nehorai, who waged legal battle against the pre-military academy in Eli, warns against drafting haredim: 'The face of the IDF will change because more and more units will fight the wars of G-d.'

Haredi leader, Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, to draft recipients: 'You are upholding the Land of Israel. You can be defectors; it's a mitzvah'

Defense Minister Israel Katz approves 7,000 draft orders decided upon by predecessor Yoav Gallant; the orders will be sent out at a pace decided by the IDF.

Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, writes that 'the security establishment's plan to send 7,000 draft orders to haredim starting Sunday must be implemented immediately.'

Hundreds of national religious women, participate in a rally calling for the enlistment of haredi men, saying that the Torah does not prohibit IDF service.

Rabbi David Leybel speaks about the issue of drafting haredi yeshiva students, saying, 'Anyone who is not studying Torah needs to enlist, but the military system is not yet prepared to absorb haredim.'

Religious Zionism MKs Ohad Tal and Moshe Solomon announce intention to vote against daycare subsidy bill, depriving the coalition of the majority necessary to pass it.

Haredi musician Mendel Rata shared why he decided to enlist in the Haredi brigade in the IDF. 'If I care about the truth, I must get up and take action.'

Increasing the amount of summonses is meant to meet the goal set for conscription.

The Religious Zionist party has announced that it will agree to support a bill that would enable daycare subsidies for yeshiva students only if at the same time there are preferential allocations and additions for reservists.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara wrote to the Minister of Justice to oppose a bill to continue subsidies to families where the father does not serve in the army.

The former Prime Minister issues a scathing denunciation of the law to continue funding daycare for families of Yeshiva students who do not enlist.

Likud MK Galit Distel Atbaryan explains why she understands the haredi community's opposition to the Draft Law, hopes Supreme Court won't torpedo anti-terrorist law.

LTG Herzi Halevi told reservists about a haredi soldier he met, and stated: 'Our question is how we create many more like him."

At a special memorial event for fallen soldiers in Bnei Barak, Rabbi Meir Mazuz said that those who went to war will be remembered in their world and reimbursed in the next.

MK Moshe Saada slams decision to end daycare subsidies for yeshiva students' children, insists 'you don't fix one injustice with another injustice.'

We must state clearly and unequivocally: there is no halakhic or moral justification for exempting part of the nation from military service and participation in the mitzvah of assisting Israel in need.

Why does Netanyahu, a decorated IDF hero, go along with the haredi exemption national shame? Why is he working on an Enlistment Law that perpetuates the haredi exemptions?

Eliezer, brother of Rabbi Avi Goldberg, who fell in Lebanon, says: 'He was a fighter-Rabbi, a Rabbi-fighter. Avi believed that you can learn Torah, and do it in the army.'

Rachel Goldberg, widow of Rabbi Avi Goldberg z"l, who fell in Lebanon, speaks to Jerusalem Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Shlomo Amar, about the draft law, when he came to pay a shiva call.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responds to Housing Minister's demand that the Draft Law pass before the State budget.

'We do our part, we want to know that we'll also receive our part,' Housing Minister and United Torah Judaism chief Yitzhak Goldknopf says.

'I strongly reject attempts to set an irresponsible ultimatum for the approval of the state budget necessary for war and the resilience of the economy.'

A resident of Bethlehem in his 30s who had entered Israeli sovereign territory illegally was caught attempting to fit in at a demonstration against haredi military conscription.

'Eliminating daycare subsidies for yeshiva students' children may force haredi parties to leave the coalition,' MK Israel Eichler warns.

Degel Hatorah MKs meet Rabbi Dov Lando, discussing the Temple Mount, Draft Law, and potential expansion of the coalition.

The government is trying to find creative ways to bypass the Attorney General who will oppose any move that allows subsidizing daycare centers for families of yeshiva students.

Hamodia newspaper reports that an agreement was reached between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UTJ chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf on the formulation and promotion of the Draft Law in the coming days.

Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf, United Torah Judaism chief, toughens stance after progress on Draft Law stalls.

Sources in United Torah Judaism send message to the Prime Minister indicating that the party expects him to advance a draft law as agreed upon in the coalition agreements.

Letter to government ministers warns of unsafe daycare centers, less haredi women in the workforce, if daycare subsidies are cut without appropriate warning.

The feeling of entitlement, of taking without giving, is contrary to the most fundamental teachings of the Torah.

Yocheved, whose grandson was wounded twice in Gaza and is currently recovering, spoke her mind to haredi anti-draft protesters who threw water and spat at her.

Passersby assaulted haredim protesting against the IDF's decision to draft them into military service.

Haredi parties criticized the decision to stop subsidizing daycares for yeshiva students eligible for enlistment. "A direct blow to Haredi women who go out to work for their livings."

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara informed Labor Minister Ben-Tzur from Shas that the state no longer has the authority to finance aid for the children of yeshiva students who do not enlist.

Hundreds of haredi extremists protest on Tuesday morning outside Tel Hashomer Induction Center against the drafting of haredim who received conscription orders.

Out of 500 haredim who were called to the IDF recruiting office, only thirty showed up. Others came, but saw the stormy protest outside and turned back.

Leading Haredi Rabbis publish a letter today opposing enlistment in haredi IDF units, since 'it is impossible to remain Torah-observant and perform mitzvot properly during military service.'

Members of the Jerusalem Faction held a demonstration ahead of the arrival of haredim who were summoned to report for pre-draft evaluations.

The IDF made it clear that if only a few of those who were summoned report, more orders will be sent. In the meantime, forces in the haredi community are calling for massive protests.

Haredi youth who receive a draft order must appear at the Draft Office, Welfare Minister Yakov Margi says. 'The law of the land is the law - first of all show up, tell them what is bothering you.'

'Secular public must understand that may haredim who enlisted in the IDF did not return to their community, because the IDF did not keep its promise,' MK Galit Distel Atbaryan says.

Haredi MK Yitzhak Pindrus says Israeli Left 'bothered by anything connected to tradition,' calls them 'irrelevant.'

Minister Sofer: 'The haredim are partners in the military campaign. We can reach respectable numbers without harming the world of Torah.'

Haredim, aged 25, including yeshiva students, received text messages calling them to report to the Recruiting Office for their first draft order.

Minister of Defense approves IDF's recommendation to issue initial orders to haredim starting Sunday morning.

The Head of the Manpower Directorate (J1), MG Yaniv Asor spoke to future enlistees about the efforts to draft haredi soldiers into the IDF. 'IDF service is an enormous privilege, an honor, and not a burden.'

The leaders of the Ger, Belz, and Viznitz hassidim have told their followers to continue reporting for their pre-draft evaluations in the hope of reaching an agreement with the IDF.

During a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting IDF representatives refused to reveal how many pre-draft evaluation orders would be sent to haredim on Sunday.

Welfare Minister Yakov Margi, who served in the IDF, promises that his party will not leave the government over the Draft Law crisis. 'Defense Ministry prefers to play politics instead of drafting haredim.'
