Deadlocked!

Last week, the Israeli Supreme Court issued a draconian ruling that those who are eligible to serve in the army but refuse to do so will be subject to cuts in government funding. The cuts include rent subsidies, childcare, after-school programs, and some food subsidies. This comes on the heels of a justice of the Supreme Court being heard stating on an open mic to his colleagues that we must dismantle the Torah world.

This was a stark ruling to overcome a very complex question. Frankly, it appears to be an overzealous attempt to make a dent in the chareidi draft situation. This is even though university students are eligible for all these grants.

On the other hand, chareidi groups protested all around Yerushalayim last week. This included the entrance to the city as well as access to the Kosel. My niece was blocked from attending the swearing-in ceremony of her own son for the new IDF soldiers held at the Kosel.

The two sides are deadlocked, and something will have to give. The Supreme Court will have to realize that it will not break the backs of the chareidim with tough legislation. It is sort of like the Iranians who show a lot of resilience despite being decimated militarily and financially. Once you have religious zealots on the one side, they will not yield easily. Yet something must be done.

It seems to me that the solution rests with the roshei yeshivah of the chareidi world. They will have to concede that not every bachur is suited to learning a whole day. I would venture to say that the list includes those boys who go out to protest. It seems they are taking off from precious time for learning to basically behave like hooligans.

The secular world has to cool it with reference to the yeshivah draft problem. Certainly, the Supreme Court must exercise restraint. Yeshivah students have to display calm in order to convince the public that they are worth the exemptions that they seek.

I will state that which I have said numerous times. The claim of yeshivah students used to be that learning Torah protects am Yisrael just as the IDF. But now they have switched gears and cry that they will not have anything to do with the secular army that is dedicated to destroying religious life. That is a hard position to defend.

The fact that politicians on both sides of the issue have weighed in does not help the situation either. I am afraid that the two sides have locked horns and the conflict will not readily be resolved. It is not a healthy situation for the people of Israel.

Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld is the Rabbi Emeritus of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, President of the Coalition for Jewish Values, former President of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens, and the Rabbinic Consultant for the Queens Jewish Link.