Israelis Organize Rally to Demand Ultra-Orthodox IDF Conscription • Jewish Breaking News

Thousands of Israelis marched from the Bridge of Strings at Jerusalem’s entrance to the Knesset on Thursday night to join a rally protesting a proposed law that would provide ultra-Orthodox Jews with a blanket exemption from army service. The protesters included young men and women on the cusp of conscription, reservists, and the families of those currently serving.

Prominent Israeli politicians and leaders attended the rally, including former prime minister Naftali Bennett, former prime minister Benny Gantz, former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, and opposition leader Yair Lapid.

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In 2024, the Israeli High Court of Justice ruled that a law exempting the Haredi community from the draft was illegal. Since then, the ultra-Orthodox community has mobilized in opposition to the ruling in an effort to overturn it. Massive protests have resulted in tragic outcomes, most notably the death of a young man who fell from a building (which may have been a suicide) and the death of a young teen run over and killed by a panicked bus driver.

In an effort to keep its coalition together, the Netanyahu government has made repeated efforts to keep the law intact, which had been on the books since the days of Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion.

Speaking at the rally, Bennett expressed appreciation for the families in attendance who had lost relatives killed in battle. Later, he wrote on X, “These families lost the most precious thing of everything, and they are asking all of us to join them in their demand, which is moral and just like no other: enlistment for all.”

Laly Deri, who lost her son, also spoke at the rally.

“How can enlistment to the army be a political issue?” she said. “We are all the descendants of our forefather Abraham, of King David. Protecting life is the holiest possible act.”

“The time has come for all the tribes of Israel — religious, secular, ultra-Orthodox — to stand shoulder to shoulder, as one people, with one heart and one fate,” she said. “Only that way can we build a home of peace and light.”

Religious non-Haredi Jews explained why enlisting in the army fulfills biblical commandments that the ultra-Orthodox are obligated to obey.

“As a religious, believing person who thinks that Torah study protects the Jewish people, I agree very much with the Haredi claim,” said Yonatan Loberboim, a former IDF soldier. “But, according to this theory, we should draft all those not studying Torah, of whom there appear to be several tens of thousands of people.” Loberboim referred to the law’s requirement of Torah study to qualify for exemption, although estimates put those in the ultra-Orthodox community who do not engage in regular study in the tens of thousands.

“Just like when a Haredi person sees a house on fire he doesn’t continue studying Torah, so too in the army, you do what you need [to do] first of all to protect [the people],” he explained. “And then there are the people who should sit and learn Torah, but you need first of all the people to protect the Jewish people, especially when the IDF is saying there are not enough people like this.”

“Someone who doesn’t learn Torah needs to enlist,” agreed Ido Kan, 61. Kan, who had served during both intifadas, carried a banner proclaiming, “Do not stand by your brother’s blood,” a phrase from a verse in Leviticus 19:16 that forbids inaction in the face of someone else facing immediate risk to their life.

“Someone who actually learns Torah needs to enlist all the more so, because he learns what’s written here,” Ido explained. “The Torah is not just for learning, it’s a way of life which must not just be studied but fulfilled too. This perversion of the Torah cannot continue.”