A Gerer yungerman who was sentenced to 20 days in Military Prison 10 despite reportedly having received a full medical exemption from military service was released less than 24 hours after his arrest, bringing a dramatic end to a case that sparked widespread outrage throughout the Chareidi community.
The avreich, Reb Moshe Reuven Werdiger, was imprisoned after what supporters say was a serious bureaucratic error within the military’s administrative system. His release followed an intensive overnight effort by community leaders, senior askanim, and public officials, who pressed military authorities to review the case.
According to those involved, Werdiger has suffered since childhood from a serious and complex medical condition. After submitting all of the required medical documentation to the military draft office, he was reportedly informed that he had been granted a full exemption from military service on medical grounds.
The matter took an unexpected turn when, despite receiving the exemption, Werdiger was contacted and instructed to return to the draft office to complete what he was told were routine administrative procedures. After questioning why he needed to return when he had already been exempted, he was reportedly told, “What difference does it make? Just come to the office and take care of it in five minutes.”
Believing everything was in order, the avreich arrived at the draft office carrying his medical records. Upon his arrival, however, he was informed that he was classified as a draft evader, apparently because his medical exemption had not yet been entered into the military’s computerized records. He was subsequently referred to a military judicial officer at Tel Hashomer.
Although medical documents detailing his severe, life-threatening allergy were presented during the proceedings, officials reportedly maintained that no exemption appeared in the computer system. The military judicial officer declined to rely on the physical documentation and sentenced Werdiger to 20 days in Military Prison 10.
As soon as news of the imprisonment spread, Gerer askanim launched an around-the-clock effort to secure his release. An emergency command center was established, with senior community activists—including Pinchas Kubitz, Motty Babchik, and Rabbi Shimon Shisha, widely known as the “father of the prisoners”—working to resolve the matter with senior officials in the IDF and the Defense Ministry.
During the night, UTJ chairman MK Yitzchak Goldknopf was fully briefed on the situation and, according to the report, conveyed a firm message to military officials on behalf of the Gerer Rebbe. The message warned that unless the avreich was released within 24 hours, thousands of Gerer chassidim would stage a massive protest outside Military Prison 10 on Tuesday.
According to those familiar with the case, the prospect of large-scale demonstrations prompted military officials to reexamine the matter. After determining that the imprisonment appeared to result from a serious administrative error involving an individual who was in fact entitled to a full medical exemption, the prison commander initiated an expedited review.
As part of that review, a military physician was brought into the prison to personally examine Werdiger’s original medical documentation. After reviewing the records, the physician reportedly concluded that Werdiger suffered from a life-threatening allergy and confirmed that he qualified for a full medical exemption. Military officials then updated the computerized records and immediately filed an appeal seeking to overturn the prison sentence.
On Monday afternoon, less than one day after his arrest, the commander of Military Prison 10 signed Werdiger’s release order. He walked out of the prison a free man and returned home to his family, where he was greeted with relief by relatives and the many askanim who had worked tirelessly on his behalf.
Individuals involved in securing his release said that military officials ultimately recognized the seriousness of the mistake.
“The defense establishment realized, perhaps a bit late, that sending an avreich with a life-threatening medical condition to military prison because of their own negligence and bureaucratic failure was a grave mistake that could have ended in disaster and ignited the entire Chareidi community. Common sense and the determination of the askanim prevailed over the bureaucracy.”
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