Israel is a nation that is fully and completely built on responsibility. Since its founding in 1948, every young man and woman has a duty and obligation to serve in the military to protect Israel's freedom and survival. Today, however, there has been a growing division among Israeli citizens that threatens that responsibility. Many ultra-ultra-Orthodox, or “Haredi”, Jews refuse to serve in the Israel Defense Force (IDF). While the Haredim (Ultra orthodox Jewish seminary students who follow the letter of the torah) argue that the study of Torah protects the nation spiritually, the state of Israel’s security depends on real people in the real world. With the consequences of October 7th, it is clear that Israel needs more people willing to risk their lives fighting than people to sit and study. I believe that it's time for all citizens, including the ultra-Orthodox, to share that burden.

On October 30th, hundreds of thousands of the ultra-Orthodox gathered in Jerusalem to protest being drafted into the Israeli military. The demonstration, called the “march of the million,” stemmed from Israel’s Supreme Court ruling that there was no longer a legal basis for exempting people from military service. For decades, there were exemptions allowing religious seminary students to avoid serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a privilege granted initially to rebuild Jewish torah scholars after the Holocaust. But as Israel continues to face threats from Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, and beyond, the question of who serves and who doesn’t has raised a deep national debate about equality, faith, and duty.

Military service in Israel is not just an assignment; it’s a moral and national obligation. Thousands of Israeli soldiers have died defending Israel since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, while “tens of thousands of reservists have served multiple tours of duty.” (New York Times) Every single one of these people, many of them religious themselves, understands that Israel’s survival relies on unity and sacrifice. As quoted by Rabbi Avia Hacohen in the New York Times article Israel’s Ultra-Orthodox Stage ‘March of the Million’ Against Military Draft, “How come my children need to be in the military and you don’t?” His question highlights the growing divide in Israeli society, one that could risk creating a kind of caste system where the ultra-Orthodox are seen as above national duty. In contrast, others bear the full burden of defense. This view echoes the frustration of many Israeli families who send their sons and daughters to the front lines, worried about the threat of them never coming back, while other parents can sit back, knowing that their children are safe and sound.

Most support for military exemptions stems from the claim that studying Torah and praying contribute to national security. One demonstrator protested with a banner that read, “God of the Jews, please save all the Jews from the immodest and promiscuous army.” (New York Times) But faith and defense should not, and are not, mutually exclusive. Soldiers like Rabbi Hacohen’s son are living proof that it’s possible to pray, study Torah, and serve and protect the state of Israel at the same time. From some viewpoints, service and defending Israel can be seen as an extension of one's faith; a sacred duty to protect the very freedom that allows the ultra-Orthodox way of life to exist.

Other Jews are the ones protecting the Orthodox way of life. Every soldier who serves in the IDF helps ensure that all Jews, no matter if they are ultra-Orthodox, Reform, or even non-practicing, can live and worship freely however they'd like. Without Israel and the IDF, there would be no truly safe place for Jewish people to practice their faith in the Holy Land without fear. The freedom that Ultra-Orthodox Jews have is protected by the very Jews they refuse to stand beside. In that sense, their refusal to serve not only pushes all the burden onto others but also undermines the safety that allows Judaism to thrive in its homeland.

When Israel was initially founded, it exempted Haredi seminary students from military service to help rebuild the ranks of Torah scholars that were destroyed during the Holocaust. At the time, the decision affected only a few hundred students, a small and understandable exception for a community struggling to recover. But today, the Haredi population has grown to make up more than 13 percent of Israel’s citizens, and the exemption has expanded far beyond its original intent. What began as an act of compassion has become a source of division and inequality. 

The Supreme Court in Israel ruled that the current system for military exemption is illegal, declaring “there was no legal basis for allowing the military exemptions.” (New York Times) This ruling shows that being fully equal before the law is a fundamental part of a functioning democracy. No group, no matter the color of their skin, sexual orientation, religious background, or religious devoutness, should be below, or above, human rights, or their national duty. In the article, Israel’s army said it needs “12,000 more soldiers to fill its ranks” (New York Times). The Haredim, who make up 13% of Israel's 10 million-person population, could easily fix the problem, and enlisting even just a fraction of eligible Haredim would strengthen the IDF and ease the burden on overworked soldiers in reserve. 

Israel Ben Shitrit, a soldier in reserve, was quoted as saying when confronting a protester, “Look around at this show of power you have here. Yet you’re unable to find a way to take part in the army, knowing the dangers the state faces?” (New York Times) His words show the frustration of many Israelis who watch their peers asking for protection from a state they refuse to help defend. In Israel, military service is so much more than just carrying a weapon; it’s an experience that brings together Israelis from all types of backgrounds. No matter if you’re rich or poor, from the north or south, a girl or a boy, serving in the military builds empathy and character, and gives all Israelis a shared purpose. 

If we are to learn any lesson from the past 2 years, Israel needs unity, not division. The Torah teaches the importance of protecting life, pikuach nefesh, and there is no better way to fulfill that commandment than by defending your brothers and sisters, the people of Israel. True faith is not just about prayer; it’s about action. It’s time for the Haredim to stand alongside their fellow citizens, not only in their religious studies but also on the front lines, fighting for the nation that fights to ensure their faith survives.