In brief
The recent shifts in Israel's military draft policies are shaking the foundations of the ultra-Orthodox community, as traditional roles and expectations collide with evolving national security needs.
In an unprecedented turn of events, Israel's ultra-Orthodox Jews, previously exempt from military service, are now facing the reality of being drafted into the army. This change follows a ruling by the Israeli Supreme Court, prompted by growing frustrations among the secular population regarding unequal military obligations. Three men from the ultra-Orthodox community, Yechiel Wais, Chaim Krausz, and Itamar Greenberg, all reacted differently to the draft orders. Yechiel Wais felt hopeful that military service would aid his integration into broader Israeli society. In stark contrast, Chaim Krausz rejected the orders, throwing them away in resistance, convinced that serving would compromise his religious beliefs. Meanwhile, Itamar Greenberg opted to serve time in military prison rather than participate in armed conflict. Historically, ultra-Orthodox Jews have maintained a status quo since Israel’s inception in 1948, when leaders made a deal to exempt them from military duty in exchange for political support. However, the recent violence and war stemming from the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, has escalated tensions. Many citizens are grappling with the perception that their own children are sent to fight while the Haredim enjoy government support for religious education. With the Haredi population growing rapidly—comprising 14% of the national demographic and projected to represent half of all Israeli children within 40 years—the societal pressure has reached a breaking point. Despite the military issuing draft orders to 10,000 ultra-Orthodox men, only a small fraction, 338, have complied, signaling a profound cultural and political impasse as Israel struggles with its identity and the implications of compulsory service for all its citizens.
