Thousands of Charedim Enlisting in IDF, Others May Join Police Force With Rabbinic Approval

ISRAEL (VINnews) — IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Motzei Shabbos that the IDF has received over 2,000 requests from Charedim to enlist.

“Since the start of the war, we have been witness to volunteering from every sector of Israeli society,” he said. “We are witness to an increasing trend of charedim who submit requests to enlist and volunteer in the IDF. Thus far we have received over 2,000 requests from people from the haredi sector. We are creating a dedicated program, and beginning on Monday, they will start enlisting.”

Charedi journalist Yanki Farber broke this story on the VIN Podcast last Thursday, when he said that thousands of Charedim are planning to enlist (video below, watch from the 16:50 mark).

In addition, Hagaon Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein issued a psak which said that Charedim who are not studying in yeshiva could join the police force.

The Rav of the police, HaRav Rami Birchiyahu, presented a shaila to HaRav Zilberstein about recruiting Chareidim for civil defense teams in Chareidi cities.

HaRav Zilberstein responded in Hebrew: “Since those who are turning to you are baalei batim, Yirei Shamayim but not bnei yeshivah, it’s permissible for them to volunteer to save Am Yisrael – to protect cities and neighborhoods from murderers and enemies.”

“In every place that the police believe that danger lurks and it’s necessary to patrol with firearms, they can patrol even on Shabbos – if possible by a non-Jew – and if not possible, it permissible for a Jew as well. And of course, Rabbanim should be consulted about every halachic shaila that arises.”

“All of the above does not apply to Bnei Yeshivah whose Torah is their profession and they protect Am Yisrael with their Torah – on this it’s written ‘אלף למטה אלף למטה’ [Bamidbar 31: 4).”