Ultra-Orthodox Israeli chief rabbi calls on Haredi students to reject military service

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israel's Chief Sephardic Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef on Wednesday urged Jewish ultra-Orthodox students, known as Haredi Yeshiva students, to reject the Israeli army's notifications asking them to enlist in military service.

His call came after the Israeli army announced that it would notify Haredi Yeshiva students to enlist next Sunday.

Israel's public broadcaster KAN said it obtained a recording from Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef stressing that anyone studying the Torah, the Jewish holy book, is exempted from military duty.

He added that those who enlist become spoiled because women soldiers are also joining the service.

"Anyone who receives a notification to enlist must tear it and not go," the stressed.

The Israeli army has been facing a military personnel shortage for months amid its ongoing war on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, as well as incursions into the West Bank and cross-border clashes with the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Last month, Israel's Supreme Court ordered Haredi Jews to enlist in the army and prohibited the government from providing financial aid to religious institutions whose students refuse military service.

Haredi Jews account for approximately 13% of Israel's approximately 9.9 million population and do not serve in the military, instead dedicating their lives to Torah study.

Israeli law mandates military service for all Israelis over the age of 18, with the exception of Haredi Jews, which has been a contention issue for decades.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar