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OPINION – The Missing Pillar in Israel’s Draft Debate: Why Any Security Solution Must Recognize Torah Identity
['Eli Paley', 'Eli Paley Is The Publisher Of The Mishpacha International Media Group', 'The Founder', 'Chairman Of The Institute For Strategy', 'Haredi Policy.']
The Media Line
Haredim, often called ultra-orthodox Jews, are a religiously observant Jewish community for whom full-time Torah study—the study of Judaism’s foundational religious texts and traditions—holds exceptional religious and cultural importance.
For decades, many Haredi men studying full-time in yeshivas (religious academies) received deferments from Israel’s compulsory military service.
In doing so, policymakers, legal authorities, and commentators systematically overlook the primary defining value of Haredi society: the foundational, non-negotiable role of full-time Torah study.
While dedication to Torah study has defined the Jewish people throughout history, the intensity of the modern yeshiva ecosystem took on a distinct historical dimension following the Holocaust.
It will come when Israel’s leadership recognizes that protecting full-time Torah study and strengthening national security are not mutually exclusive goals—they are the two foundational pillars upon which the Jewish state was rebuilt.