Last week, chareidi yeshivah students took to the streets to oppose the change in status of the draft law affecting thousands of students currently enrolled in yeshivos. The government wants yeshivah men to serve their time in the army, and they are making it quite clear.
The Supreme Court of Israel ordered cuts in almost all funding that goes to yeshivah students, including housing benefits.
In reaction, dozens, if not hundreds, of yeshivah students gathered to block major highway arteries, railroad lines, and even airport access. No matter that people must get to where they are going. Some have weddings to attend. Others have doctor appointments. Yet others just need to keep appointments. Too bad for them.
When water cannons were employed to disperse the protesters, they simply danced in the torrents of water. Total defiance.
The result is nothing short of a chilul Hashem, a disgrace of G-d’s name, and increased hatred for the chareidim. But apparently, they don’t care. It’s a mob out of control.
I heard one rosh ha’yeshivah, from a moderate yeshivah, defend these tactics. He said that when the government leaves us with no options, then we have the right to fight back, as long as no violence is used.
I beg to differ. Stopping traffic on highways is a form of violence. It certainly accomplishes the same as violence. It is used to terrify the public, who feel paralyzed to go anywhere by car. And many ambulances and emergency vehicles are stopped in their tracks as well.
To be sure, several respected roshei yeshivah did come out against these protests, but to little, if any, avail. What might make a difference is if the roshei yeshivah would expel these boys from the yeshivah. Besides all else, they are obviously not spending their time learning, which is precisely what they should be doing.
So, what to do? Option one is to have a certain number of yeshivah boys join the army. Not all the boys are sitting and learning properly to deserve the exemption from the army. It’s just a cultural objection. For cultural reasons, one cannot be expected to be relieved from army duty. I must confess, however, that since I am in chutz la’aretz, outside of Israel, it is difficult for me to express a valid opinion on the matter.
Option two is to hold organized rallies to express their objections to the draft. That admittedly would also cause bitul Torah, negation of Torah studies, but at least it’s done in an organized fashion, not the hooliganism that currently reigns.
Yes, this is a crisis with no immediate solution. Yet still, cooler heads must prevail...and that is on both sides of the issue.
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.