IDF: Full-time Torah studies, draft-dodging harm our ethic - Haaretz

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Thu., November 22, 2007 Kislev 12, 5768

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Last update - 03:52 22/11/2007

IDF: Full-time Torah studies, draft-dodging harm our ethic

By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent

Tags: draft dodging, IDF

In a decade, around 25 percent of young people eligible to be drafted into the Israel Defense Forces will not serve due to full-time yeshiva studies, the IDF's human resources chief, Major General Elazar Stern, said Wednesday.

Speaking at a conference at Bar-Ilan University, Stern said something had to be done about the situation "because of the dangerous implications of these matters for the value of service in all Israeli society. He said draft-dodging had also found its way into religious Zionist circles.

At present, 12 percent of those eligible for the draft do not serve because of full-time religious studies.

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Stern said that legally avoiding army service does not automatically make a person a draft-dodger.

"Who is a draft-dodger? It can also be someone who cheats by means of various medical reasons, and there could be thousands who justify it by saying Torah is their craft, when Torah is not their craft," Stern said.

He said that those who did serve were not properly rewarded by receiving preference in acceptance to academic institutions as required by law.

Stern also advocates increasing the numbers of ultra-Orthodox men serving in the Nahal Brigade. By establishing this unit, "the IDF pulled the rug out from under the excuse of the ultra-Orthodox not to serve. There are conditions there they don't have in Bnei Brak [a heavily ultra-Orthodox town]. The food is not only glatt kosher, but they also force them to go to prayers. They put burlap up so they won't see a female clerk 300 meters away, even if she is dressed properly."

With regard to veterans' acceptance in academic institutions, Stern said: "In 1994, I was told that most of those accepted to study medicine were Arabs. Even to get into Harvard, candidates are asked what they have done for their country, and here we give priority to those who have not served their country."

Stern added that the army needed dozens of doctors who would complete their medical studies before being drafted, but "their place is being taken by others, and we have canceled the law mandating preference for veterans."

Defense Minister Ehud Barak, IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and former minister Dan Meridor also attended the conference, which marked the first anniversary of the death of Major General Abraham Rotem

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1.	Draft dodgers extremely harmful	04:48	\|	Ofer	22/11/07

2.	I will never fight for an army that oppresses Jews!	05:50	\|	Allon	22/11/07

3.	To Allon (#2)	06:45	\|	Ted	22/11/07

4.	WOW 25 % of young people studying in Yashiva ! Fantastic news!!	06:48	\|	Jew	22/11/07

5.	Allon	06:52	\|	Ethan	22/11/07

6.	to JEW - Maybe 100% should study???	07:44	\|	B`Galil	22/11/07

7.	SHUT=UP! ARMY USED TO DEPORT JEWS FROM THEIR HOMES,NOT PROTECT	08:04	\|	THE VOICE))))))))	22/11/07

8.	RIGHT NOW,TORAH STUDY IS OUR BEST PROTECTION FROM QASAMS,KATYSHAS	08:10	\|	VOICE of MOSHIACH)))	22/11/07

9.	Haridim not called for reserve duty	08:40	\|	dave	22/11/07

10.	"JEW" @4.You sure they are all actually studying?And You??	08:48	\|	PETER S .M.	22/11/07

11.	Those who are in Yeshivot due to peer pressure etc	09:02	\|	PETER S.M.	22/11/07

12.	Religious draft dodging and the Arabs	09:26	\|	Abu-Moshe	22/11/07

13.	so make the army fit for humans...	09:42	\|	A jew	22/11/07

14.	reduce rape first	09:44	\|	Alexa	22/11/07

15.	Full Time Torah Study	09:44	\|	Sammy	22/11/07

16.	Actually #6 , yes	09:45	\|	Joan	22/11/07

17.	peter - try study for 10 hours a day.	09:47	\|	Another Jew	22/11/07

18.	DO THE ARMY : THEN STUDY TORAH	09:53	\|	D.Fender	22/11/07

19.	SECULAR ABORTIONS ARE BIGGER DRAFT DODGING THAN TORAH	09:54	\|	Fetus Soldier	22/11/07

20.	REAL DANGER TO ISRAEL IS TRAITOR GOVT. STERN TURNS AWAY ATTENTION	09:59	\|	THE VOICE))))))))	22/11/07

21.	moshiach ethics	09:59	\|	buber	22/11/07

22.	first of all	10:20	\|	JL	22/11/07

23.	#16 Joan ??????????????????????????	10:21	\|	B`Galil	22/11/07

24.	"Another Jew"I Have studied in a Yeshiva inYerushalaim for 10 hrs	10:22	\|	PETER S .M.	22/11/07

25.	to #17 another Jew	10:23	\|	B`Galil	22/11/07

26.	Abolish the TAL Law now, Harideem should serve	10:36	\|	SJ	22/11/07

27.	the epitome of chutzpe	10:37	\|	avi	22/11/07

28.	the epitome of chutzpe	10:37	\|	avi	22/11/07

29.	#17	10:46	\|	????	22/11/07

30.	Bglalim And lack of understanding	10:55	\|	Joan	22/11/07

31.	peter- so have the army allow yeshiva students to work.	10:59	\|	Another Jew	22/11/07

32.	Bgalil go back to your plough , peasant	11:00	\|	Another Jew	22/11/07

33.	Avi , chelm and foolishness	11:01	\|	Josephine	22/11/07

34.	ofer and absurd	11:03	\|	Moshe	22/11/07

35.	#21BUBER:NO,THE IDEF WON`T CONQUER GOD`S LAND,TORAH STUDY WILL)))	11:03	\|	VOICE of MOSHIACH)))	22/11/07

36.	#18 fender bender	11:05	\|	HareidiJew	22/11/07

37.	bent fender and warped logic	11:08	\|	Joanne	22/11/07

38.	THE JEWISH SALVATION ARMY	11:10	\|	Iskander	22/11/07

39.	allon-yeshiva boys were exempt before hebron	11:26	\|	as you well know	22/11/07

40.	allon-yeshiva boys were exempt before hebron	11:26	\|	as you well know	22/11/07

41.	To #27/#28	11:30	\|	Isaac Brooks	22/11/07

42.	"A JEW" Your excuse applies everywhere even in Haredi communities	11:31	\|	PETER SM	22/11/07

43.	the other side of the issue-spare us	11:35	\|	herschele	22/11/07

44.	Full Time Tora Studies	11:43	\|	Yona Schear	22/11/07

45.	Perhaps if Mr Stern had received an education	11:51	\|	D Hirod	22/11/07

46.	Another Jew.Women are not your problem.Taiva is	12:16	\|	PETER S .M.	22/11/07

47.	National Service	15:26	\|	David L.	22/11/07

48.	stop rapes then talk about ethics	19:39	\|	Leah	22/11/07

49.	peter , you sound like the total you studied was 10 hours	19:42	\|	Jewboy	22/11/07

50.	David L are your preaching national service or national soc...	19:45	\|	Jewboy	22/11/07

51.	peter, ignorance and arrogance	19:48	\|	HareidiJewess	22/11/07

52.	David L and unpleasant conotations	19:51	\|	A jew	22/11/07

53.	EVERYONE serves in their own way	22:24	\|	Yaakov	22/11/07

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