In a sweeping ruling, Israel’s High Court declared on Wednesday that the state must move immediately to put an aggressive enforcement system in place against those in the chareidi community who do not report for the draft.
The decision, issued by Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg together with Justices Dafna Barak-Erez, David Mintz, Yael Wilner, and Ofer Grosskopf, insists that the government implement a plan that deploys both criminal sanctions and wide-ranging financial and civil penalties.
The ruling presents an uncompromising demand: the government must begin “real criminal proceedings” against chareidi draft-evaders and must do so “diligently and swiftly.”
In the court’s view, the rate of prosecution in the chareidi sector may no longer lag behind that of any other group, and the judges made clear that the state must reach that point “as soon as possible.”
In place of the current system, the court ordered the government to design a comprehensive enforcement policy within 45 days. The plan, it ruled, must include a full array of complementary measures—especially economic ones—and these steps, when taken together, must be reasonably expected “to be effective and produce real change.” The justices also stressed that the government must heed the guidance of expert officials and cannot sidestep proposals that professional bodies deem essential.
The verdict includes a stern warning: any enforcement plan that allows “bypass funding channels” will be rejected as noncompliant. In the same vein, the court wrote that benefits “tied directly or indirectly to draft-evasion—such as benefits for yeshiva students whose yeshiva attendance indicates draft-evasion—must not continue.”
The petition that led to this dramatic ruling was submitted about eighteen months ago. It challenged the government’s failure to carry out an earlier High Court directive and argued that, without new legislation explicitly granting an exemption, the state “has no authority to refrain from enforcing punitive legal measures on draft-evaders.” The petitioners maintained that the state is obligated to enforce the law without hesitation.
The justices built their decision on four assertions. First, that the obligation of military service applies equally to all citizens, including the chareidi sector. Second, the already-deep inequality in the realm of conscription has intensified in the wake of the Israel-Hamas War. Third, that the IDF now faces an urgent manpower shortage—an estimated need for 12,000 soldiers, more than half for combat positions—which, in the court’s view, heightens the need to recruit chareidim. And fourth, that equalizing the draft is not just a military objective but “a national mission of the highest importance,” requiring full cooperation from all branches of government.
In reviewing the state’s conduct until now, the court’s assessment was scathing. It found that the government’s approach amounts to “a complete abandonment” of criminal enforcement against chareidi draft-evaders. According to the ruling, this neglect “violates the duty of state authorities to enforce the law, undermines the draft obligation, empties the law of substance, and constitutes selective enforcement.”
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Chaim Lauer zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Kaminetz L’Tze’irim. He was 87.
The levayah took place this afternoon, departing from the Shamgar Funeral Home and continuing to Har HaZeisim for kevurah.
Rav Lauer devoted more than half a century to guiding and shaping talmidim at Yeshivas Kaminetz in Yerushalayim. Generations of bochurim were molded through his shiurim, his example, and his unwavering dedication to Torah and yiras Shamayim.
He was born in the United States on 21 Tammuz, 5693, to his parents Rav Yaakov z”l and Mrs. Dina a”h Lauer. In his youth, he became one of the prominent talmidim of Rav Aharon Kotler at Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood. He later continued his learning in Brisk under Rav Berel Soloveitchik.
Upon reaching marriageable age, he wed his wife, Mrs. Yehudis, who stood by his side throughout decades of harbatzas Torah.
At Yeshivas Kaminetz L’Tze’irim, Rav Lauer dedicated decades to teaching with clarity and heart, raising many talmidim who continue to walk proudly on the derech haTorah.
He is survived by a family of bnei and bnos Torah.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Against the backdrop of intense legal deliberations surrounding the proposed draft law and the looming implications for yeshiva bochurim, a powerful call has been issued by Rav Avraham Salim, Rosh Yeshivas Maor HaTorah. Citing the seriousness of the moment, Rav Salim instructed that this coming Thursday, Erev Rosh Chodesh Kislev, traditionally considered an auspicious day for teshuvah and kapparah, be observed across all yeshivos as a day of fasting, heartfelt tefillah, and communal outcry.
The appeal comes amid what Rav Salim described as an increasingly dire reality for the Torah community, with growing “persecution” directed toward bochurim who have committed their lives to limud haTorah. Those close to the Rosh Yeshiva explained that his message is part of a broader effort to strengthen the spiritual battle to defend the place of bnei Torah in Eretz Yisroel.
In addition to the fast itself, Rav Salim issued further instructions for the talmidim of Maor HaTorah to gather for a special tefillah on the day of the fast. Originally, plans were made to hold the Yom Kippur Katan tefillos at Kever Rochel on Erev Rosh Chodesh. However, Rav Salim directed that the tefillah be moved to the Kosel Plaza.
The talmidim will travel to Kever Rochel as well, where they will conduct a stirring tefillah gathering, invoking the merit of Rochel Imeinu, beseeching that her tears on behalf of her children be accepted favorably before the Kisei HaKavod.
{Matzav.com}