JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The Israeli government is set to discuss the framework which would allow the exemption age from military service to be lowered from 24 to 21. The goal of this law, which has the support of Prime Minister Bennett and -surprisingly – that of Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, is to enable yeshiva students to enter the workforce at a younger age without having to worry about being conscripted to the IDF.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Defense Minister Benny Gantz is opposed to the lowering of the exemption age and ministry officials say that it would not be authorized by the Supreme Court but the prime minister is set to push for such an exemption with the help of Lapid’s Yesh Atid party. The exemption is also a fundamental clause in the coalition agreement, which aims to increase the chareidi male participation in the workforce to 70% by 2030.
The chareidi parties are not stating publicly their opinion regarding the exemptions but privately they are opposed to lowering the age of exemption because they are concerned that this would lead to a large number of yeshiva students leaving their studies and going to work.
Up until the early 1960’s the culture in the American Shomer Shabbos world would have been after high school for most boys to go off to college and then to work. Sitting a few years or more in Bais Medrash was for a very few. As a result of the draft during the Vietnam war, it became standard practice in order to be exempt from the draft, for all boys after high school to remain in Bais medrash, either part time or full time, for a number of years and this remained standard practice until today even though the draft is no longer a factor.
State of Shmad.
What does this mean? I am no fan of this govt . But what is wrong with giving people the option to work? How crazy are the charedm? That’s shmad? No one is forcing you to work. This is optional. Just like in the USA and bmg. This kind of proves the whole army thing was cop out abd excuse to keep the masses brain washed