Title: Shift in Attitudes Among Ultra-Orthodox Jews Towards Military Service in Israel
In the wake of the deadliest day of attacks on Jews since the Holocaust, parts of Israel’s rapidly growing community of ultra-Orthodox Jews, known as Haredim, are reconsidering their role in the nation’s fabric. The recent Hamas-led attack on Israel has prompted flashes of greater solidarity between sections of Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Jewish minority and the secular mainstream, as fears of a shared threat have accelerated the integration of some of Israel’s most insular citizens.
Since Israel’s founding 76 years ago, Haredim have had a fraught relationship with their secular neighbors, in part due to the benefits and exemptions they receive, such as being exempt from military conscription to focus on religious study. However, as the number of ultra-Orthodox Jews has exploded, resentment from secular Israelis has grown, leading to calls for the inclusion of Haredim in the military and workforce.
The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a deadline to either extend the exemption for Haredim or begin to include them in the draft, a decision that has sparked a national debate and threatens to bring down the governing coalition. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is advocating for increased Haredi involvement in the military, citing the need for all sectors of the population to bear the burden of security challenges facing the nation.
Polling data shows that the Israeli mainstream is increasingly in favor of forcing Haredim to enlist, with more Haredim expressing support for or interest in military service. This shift in attitudes is reflected in the actions of some Haredi individuals, such as Haredi lecturer Nechamia Steinberger, who returned to the military as a reservist after the recent attacks and experienced a newfound sense of appreciation from his community.
While most of Haredi society still resists interactions with secular Israelis and military service, some leaders, like Haredi government minister Yitzhak Goldknopf, are hinting at a change in mindset. Goldknopf, who broke the rules of the Jewish Sabbath for the first time on the day of the attacks, is now open to the idea of some Haredim joining the army, particularly those who are not likely to excel as Torah scholars.
The shifting attitudes among Haredim towards military service in Israel reflect a broader trend of increased integration and solidarity between different sectors of Israeli society in the face of shared threats and challenges.
