haredim

Draft Law returns: UTJ sets ultimatum for joining government

United Torah Judaism demands law exempting yeshiva students from military service, refusing to aid coalition until law is passed

Haredi yeshiva hosts first IDF ballot box

For the first time, a military polling station opens at a haredi Hesder yeshiva, allowing students to vote without interrupting their Torah studies.

Haredi leader: 'Color Black' party will burn in hell

Lithuanian-haredi leader Rabbi Dov Lando says haredi 'Color Black' party uninterested in entering Knesset, will 'burn in hell.'

Lessons from the past to guide your hand on election day

Israel’s enemies are waiting for there to be just one government which is “temporarily focussed on the Hareidi issue," on fighting internally instead of fighting them. Remember the days of Oslo and the "peace camp"? Opinion.

Hasidic man pepper-sprayed in unprovoked attack in Ashdod

Hasidic man attacked with pepper spray while walking in Ashdod, assailant flees on an electric bicycle.

On Hatzibur Hachareidi:

Something unexpected is happening in haredi politics

This new party is picking up the gauntlet of staying haredi but accepting national responsibilities, and they are climbing in popularity but still need our support to make it a reality. GO OUT AND VOTE. Op-ed.

Draft evader's arrest sparks violent clashes at Elad yeshivas

Protests erupt in Elad after yeshiva student arrested for draft evasion; students accuse hurling stun grenades in yeshiva compounds, allegedly near uninvolved students.

Unusual meeting at haredi leader's home

Rabbi Dov Lando urges working haredi voters to support United Torah Judaism despite frustrations, warning against alternative parties.

Minister Zohar

'Treatment of haredim is like the Inquisition'

Following the detention of dozens of young Chabad Hasidim at Ben Gurion Airport on suspicion of draft evasion, the Culture Minister issued an unusually harsh condemnation of personal sanctions against Torah students.

Eda Haredit: Voting in elections is forbidden

In a document they published, the hardline haredi leadership reiterated its longstanding opposition to participation in the governing institutions of the State of Israel.

Clashes and protests

Haredi draft dodger arrested in Kfar Saba

Dozens of haredi protesters gathered outside the police station in Kfar Saba to protest the arrest of a draft dodger. Demonstrations were also held on Highway 4.

Midnight election drama:

Netanyahu presses haredi party to drop out

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets Haredi Public Party chairman Moti Leitner in bid to prevent wasted right-wing votes; Leitner outlines demands.

Historic milestone in IDF:

First haredi officer course completed by Hashmonaim Brigade

Fifteen cadets graduate as Hashmonaim Brigade’s first officers. Chief of staff says they are breaking new ground in integrating haredim into the IDF and building the brigade’s command echelon.

HaTzibbur HaChareidi Party's goal:

A Torah that makes us a blessing

When Haredi Torah life is met with contempt or anger rather than admiration, we must ask what impression our actions are making, and what we can do to change it. Opinion.

No Netanyahu, no haredim:

Reservists Party sets coalition red lines

Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha rule out joining a Netanyahu-Haredi coalition, demand universal conscription, and warn of a threat to Israel's future.

Netanyahu forced to clarify: Draft evaders will go to jail

Likud rejects opposition accusations over Netanyahu's haredi draft remarks, insisting that those who refuse to enlist will face imprisonment.

64,000 haredi draft dodgers could face tougher penalties

The IDF is weighing a major crackdown on haredi men who ignored draft orders, including shortening the threshold for criminal prosecution and exposing more draft evaders to potential prison sentences of up to six months.

Due to draft evasion

Chabad students arriving in Israel face mass arrests

Military Police detain 25 Chabad yeshiva students returning from New York over unresolved draft status; Chabad rabbis work to secure their release.

'Not acceptable'

Netanyahu speaks out against draft dodger arrests

Netanyahu promises a new haredi conscription law, condemns arrests of yeshiva students, and rules out a plea deal; Eisenkot vows to oppose him.

Extremists throw stones at Karlin Rebbe's vehicle

Outrage has erupted in the haredi community following a violent incident in Beit Shemesh in which a group of extremists attacked the vehicle of the Karlin-Stolin Rebbe with stones.

Passport loophole:

Yeshiva student admits smuggling criminals abroad

Jerusalem yeshiva student reveals how he used his passport to smuggle people barred from leaving Israel through Ben Gurion Airport; is released to house arrest.

Government delays revoking benefits for haredi draft dodgers

Government stalls review of property tax and public transport discounts for haredi draft dodgers.

False alarm sparks clashes over suspected yeshiva student arrest

Hundreds gathered in Arad after police were mistakenly identified as Military Police seeking to arrest a yeshiva student. The “Black Alert" system was activated before the misunderstanding was cleared up.

'We'll be the election surprise'

HaTzibbur HaCharedi party chairman rejects pressure to withdraw

Nine days before elections, Moti Leitner rejects calls to withdraw his HaTzibbur HaCharedi party, insisting it will cross.

Shas MK warns: Every wasted vote hands power to the left

Former minister Michael Malkieli warns haredi voters who stay home or support parties unlikely to enter Knesset could help bring left to power, threaten Israel's Jewish identity.

Letter to Israel's haredi community:

Are we a wise and discerning people?

There are wise and discerning haredim are willing to say out loud: "We want to join our brothers and sisters in defending and contributing to our state! Give us ways to do so that respect our principles, and we will be there, with you and for you." Opinion.

Netanyahu

'Let the death-before-enlistment people go to prison'

The Prime Minister presented a plan Sunday morning to enlist 23,000 haredi men over three and a half years and issued a stern warning to those who categorically oppose military service.

Without prior warning

Extremist haredi protesters block Gan Yavne Interchange

Dozens of protesters from the Jerusalem Faction blocked the Gan Yavne Interchange in protest against the arrests of military draft evaders, hours before a planned demonstration on Highway 4.

Draft evaders barred from civil service jobs

Following the attorney general’s directives, the Civil Service Commission is reinstating enforcement of the ban on hiring draft-eligible individuals who have not regularized their status.

Two arrested

Extremist protesters attempt to storm IDF building near Bnei Brak

Violent clashes erupt near Bnei Brak as dozens of extremist protesters attempt to force their way into a building housing an IDF unit responsible for integrating haredi soldiers.

Yeshiva Committee issues unusual guidelines to students

Committee of Yeshivas in the Land of Israel issues unusual guidelines urging haredi yeshiva students to avoid encounters with military authorities, take precautions against legal complications.

Smotrich: Haredim are ungrateful to G-d

Bezalel Smotrich criticized haredi opposition to Zionism and the draft, while saying change on enlistment must come through persuasion, not force.

Haredi man attacked in Ashdod, shtreimel damaged

Three minors on electric scooters attack Belz Hasid in Ashdod, striking him in the face with a water balloon and damaging his shtreimel.

‘Parasitic population’

Yair Golan’s controversial remarks about haredim

Democrats chairman Yair Golan said that the Haredi population must be transformed into a productive one.

'Take off your kippah'

Ofer Winter confronted in Bnei Brak

Ofer Winter receives a warm reception in Bnei Brak before being confronted by extremist haredi protesters from the Jerusalem Faction, who shout insults at him.

Shas blames anti-draft riots on attorney general

Shas claims draft-evasion arrests are politically motivated to weaken the right-wing bloc.

Haredi protesters thwart military arrests in two cities

Military Police forced to withdraw without making arrests in Dimona, Bat Yam, after dozens of haredi protesters physically blocked arrest operations targeting draft evaders.

Haredi faction announces mass protests, major roadblocks

Jerusalem Faction announces mass demonstrations protesting arrests of yeshiva students; major traffic disruptions expected in Jerusalem and central Israel.

The Haredi draft crisis needs a fundamental reset

There is a real problem here. It should not be denied or minimised by either side. Opinion.

Haredi draft-evader arrested in drug offender's apartment

Hebron yeshiva student from prominent haredi family arrested in Eilat after police find him in apartment linked to known drug offender.

UTJ chairman warns of haredi voter turnout drop

MK Yaakov Asher warns demographic growth in haredi community must be reflected at polls, amid anger over the draft crisis and competition from new haredi parties.

Arrest failed

Watch: Haredi extremists riot in Modi'in

Extremist haredim clash with police during attempted arrest of haredi draft-evader; officers evacuated.

‘Distorted Torah’

Haredi leader's harsh attack on religious Zionists

In a recorded private conversation, Rabbi Dov Lando sharply criticized Religious Zionists, Zionism, IDF service, and the founding of Israel.

Leading haredi rabbi blasts calls to boycott Knesset elections

Rabbi Dov Lando sharply condemns haredi voices urging election boycott, saying those promoting such a move act out of 'wickedness or stupidity.'

Rabbi Lando warns: ‘Torah world facing existential battle’

Amid escalating tensions over haredi enlistment, Lithuanian-haredi leader Rabbi Dov Landau warns yeshiva students of struggle for Torah study, urges them to continue learning.

Rabbi Hirsch launches plan to tackle haredi housing crisis

Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, leading haredi rabbi, orders urgent action, seeking workable plan to resolve housing crisis.

In first:

Two haredi IDF battalions join forces in northern Israel

Hashmonaim Brigade's Shimon reservists deploy alongside veteran Yonatan Battalion in a historic first, reinforcing IDF forces in the north during the Jewish holidays.

Pindrus: Our only issue is protecting Torah learners

Degel HaTorah MK Yitzhak Pindrus dismisses polls, says party’s decisions after the election will depend on who protects status of yeshiva students.

IDF probes suspected fake psychiatric exemptions

IDF uncovers suspicious patterns in psychiatric reports used to seek draft exemptions, raising questions about civilian doctors and possible organized scheme.

Hiddush asks Supreme Court to slash funding for haredi schools

Hiddush petition cites widespread shortages of qualified math, science and English teachers and demands funding for haredi schools be capped at 75%.

Rabbi Ovadia’s grandson blasts court over memorial ban

Yonatan Yosef says a Supreme Court ruling blocking a state memorial conference for his grandfather wrongly shifts authority from elected officials to the legal establishment.

Israeli study:

Strong community ties linked to lower mortality risk

Study of more than 1.2 million Israelis finds kibbutz residents have significantly lower mortality risk than haredi and non-haredi Jews living in urban communities.

Modzitz Rebbe hospitalized but returns to lead prayers

Modzitz Rebbe is rushed to hospital on Rosh Hashanah, but returns to lead holiday prayers.

Rosh Hashanah in Uman?

Dozens arrested before leaving Israel

About 70 Breslov Hassidim are reportedly in military jails after arrests ahead of Rosh Hashanah, as legal aid is offered to those returning from Uman.

Haredi political first:

Woman joins party’s Knesset slate

Dr. Nechumi Yaffe joins HaTzibur HaCharedi, becoming the first woman included on the Knesset slate of a haredi party running in Israeli elections.

Deri: IDF can bomb Iran, it can handle haredi enlistment

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri says politicians should not call on haredim to enlist, claiming the IDF 'doesn’t really want' soldiers who listen to rabbis.

Rabbi Dov Lando signals:

Degel Hatorah is not bound to Netanyahu

Rabbi Dov Lando says the haredi Torah world faces growing persecution and stresses that Degel Hatorah does not depend on any prime minister.

Haredi fund offers draft evaders NIS 1,000 a day in prison

Senior Lithuanian haredi rabbis back 'Prison 1,000' fund designed to reward draft evaders for each day spent behind bars.

Uman-bound haredi draft evaders stopped at airport, Taba border

Six haredi men caught trying to leave Israel at Ben Gurion Airport; dozens more headed for Uman stopped over active exit bans.

Haredi commander heeds rabbi’s call and leaves IDF

A haredi commander serving in a classified technological unit in the IDF resigned following a direct instruction he received from a Shas Council of Torah Sages member.