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Last update - 04:05 10/03/2008 Civilian national service fails to attract yeshiva students By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: tal law, yeshiva students  Only 50 yeshiva students have opted for civilian national service since this option was made available to them about six months ago, according to data provided by the head of the National Civilian Service Administration, Dr. Reuven Gal. This is less than 0.1 percent of the more than 50,000 yeshiva students who currently receive draft deferrals. In other words, the Tal Law - which was meant to encourage yeshiva students to enter the job market by allowing them to perform civilian service instead of military service (as opposed to keeping their draft deferral status by remaining in yeshiva and not seeking employment) - has thus far been a flop. "We are maintaining a low profile," Gal explained. "The time has not yet come to make waves. Those who do civilian service are pleased with it, and every dozen brings another dozen." Advertisement This low profile stems from fear that if the program were widely publicized, it would spark opposition from ultra-Orthodox rabbis that would force it to shut down entirely. But without publicity, many yeshiva students do not even know that this option exists. Last year, yeshiva students who received draft deferrals comprised 11 percent of the entire pool of draftable 18-year-old males. By 2020, that rate is expected to reach 25 percent - meaning that one out of every four 18-year-old males will be in yeshiva instead of the army. This makes solving the problem of yeshiva draft deferrals urgent. Nevertheless, the Tal Law - which enables any yeshiva student who so desires to continue receiving a draft deferral - was extended for another five years last July, under pressure from Shas. The law, enacted in 2002, was meant to encourage yeshiva students to enter the working world by enabling them to take a "year of decision" at age 22, during which they could either work or go to college without being drafted. At the end of that year, they could either return to yeshiva or enlist for abbreviated military or civilian service. In practice, however, no framework for civilian service was established during the law's first five years of operation. A key reason for this was the Finance Ministry's demand that anyone participating in such service be paid a much lower wage than the stipend given to yeshiva students. The proposed wage would not have enabled such students (many of whom are already married by age 22) to support their families, leading the other relevant bodies to deem the plan a nonstarter. During the law's first four and a half years of existence, from mid-2002 through the end of 2006, only 2,150 yeshiva students (4 percent) took a gap year, and of those, all but 150 (0.3 percent) returned to yeshiva afterward. So far, however, opening a civilian service track has not improved the picture. Related articles: Tal Law exempting ultra-Orthodox from military service set to expire Beilin proposes bill to overturn mandatory military service law Cabinet to extend Tal Law on army service for yeshiva students Barak refuses to exempt 1,000 Haredi men from army service Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bring down the house Knesset speaker calls for wrecking of yeshiva killer's family home. Frum and fabulous Beauty salons offer Haredi women a unique brand of modest glamour.   1.   Why give up a free ride? 05:28  |  Nathaniel 10/03/08   2.   Wow that`s astonishing What did they think? 06:38  |  Dan 10/03/08   3.   I think they should be add another option, 3 year Caribbean holid 06:41  |  Dan 10/03/08   4.   Nataniel: one lesson re self respect you may find in the Gemara 07:10  |  avigdor 10/03/08   5.   I AGREE WITH #1 BUT WHERE ARE YOU? 07:37  |  Jay A Friedman 10/03/08   6.   Logically! 01:58  |  Paul 12/03/08

Today Online Britain bans Likud's Moshe Feiglin from entering country Responses: 317 Editorial: Sign peace deal quickly with PA Responses: 132 Rocket on Ashkelon ends four-day lull in violence Responses: 136 N.Y. Governor in sex scandal; pimp said to hold Israel passport Responses: 143 PA official: West Bank construction threatens peace process Responses: 148 Rosner's Domain Israeli leadership: A mixture of paranoia and luck Poll: Cease-fire with Hamas, a good idea? How Qassams changed the conflict (WTR) Study: Boston's intermarried 'as observant' as Reform Jews Whose Jerusalem Is It, anyway? More Headlines 21:40 Egypt FM: Cairo can forge truce between Israel and Gaza militants 01:52 Qureia to Livni: 'Shocked' at Israeli plan to expand settlement 01:08 Police officers slam district chief's ignorance about yeshiva attack 22:08 Shas urges PM to continue aliyah of Ethiopian Falashmura 22:00 Shas chair demands that PM unfreeze E. J'lem construction plan 22:53 Livni to Obama: There is a direct link between Iran and terror 23:58 Pro-Palestinian graffiti found inside El Al plane in Italy 22:50 Report: Yeshiva graduates plan revenge attack against Arab figure 22:19 Israeli leftist Fahima consoles family of J'lem yeshiva terrorist 23:37 U.S. immigrant builds bridges with the 'Facebook of peace' 17:47 Justice Min. says he'll freeze bill to restrict Supreme Court power 20:08 Belgian gov't, banks to pay 110M euros to victims of Holocaust 20:23 Police: Organized crime groups traffic Palestinians into Israel Previous Editions Select Day 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb

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