* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Monday, October 6, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Row K Entertainment Emerges as Major New Hollywood Buyer With Splashy TIFF Shopping Spree – TheWrap

    Row K Entertainment Emerges as Major New Hollywood Buyer With Splashy TIFF Shopping Spree – TheWrap

    Charlie Hunnam Reflects on Playing a Serial Killer in Monster: The Ed Gein Story – Yahoo

    Charlie Hunnam Reveals the Dark Challenges of Playing a Serial Killer in Monster: The Ed Gein Story

    “Reba” cast, then and now: See the stars 24 years later (and who’s reunited for another show) – Yahoo

    “Reba” cast, then and now: See the stars 24 years later (and who’s reunited for another show) – Yahoo

    Why Taylor Swift Name-Dropped Elizabeth Taylor in Her New Album – Yahoo

    Here’s Why Taylor Swift Dropped Elizabeth Taylor’s Name in Her New Album

    Al Roker Gives Olivia Dean an Unexpected ‘New Job’ on the ‘Today’ Show – Yahoo

    Al Roker Shocks Olivia Dean with an Exciting New Role on the ‘Today’ Show

    Books about the arts and some haunts for a Denton October – Denton Record-Chronicle

    Uncover Artistic Treasures and Spooky Adventures to Experience in Denton This October

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Forget Cowbells. Cows Wear High-Tech Collars Now. – The New York Times

    Ditch the Cowbells: Discover the High-Tech Collars Transforming Cattle Care

    What the Recent Price Surge Means for Figure Technology Solutions After SEC Settlement – Yahoo Finance

    What the Recent Price Surge Reveals About Figure Technology Solutions Following SEC Settlement

    MAC Brings iPad Technology to Football Sidelines Across All 13 Member Schools – Sports Video Group

    MAC Brings iPad Technology to Football Sidelines Across All 13 Member Schools – Sports Video Group

    Technology Is Becoming More Important Than Humans In CX – No Jitter

    Technology Is Becoming More Important Than Humans In CX – No Jitter

    A Tech Expo Shows What China Can Make, but Not Who’ll Buy It All – The New York Times

    Inside China’s Tech Expo: Cutting-Edge Innovations Face Uncertain Demand

    Steampunk Metal Oval Technology Sense Sunglasses Personality Handmade Chain Multicolor Sunglasses UV400 – The San Joaquin Valley Sun

    Steampunk Metal Oval Sunglasses with Handmade Multicolor Chain – Bold UV400 Protection and Unique Style

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Row K Entertainment Emerges as Major New Hollywood Buyer With Splashy TIFF Shopping Spree – TheWrap

    Row K Entertainment Emerges as Major New Hollywood Buyer With Splashy TIFF Shopping Spree – TheWrap

    Charlie Hunnam Reflects on Playing a Serial Killer in Monster: The Ed Gein Story – Yahoo

    Charlie Hunnam Reveals the Dark Challenges of Playing a Serial Killer in Monster: The Ed Gein Story

    “Reba” cast, then and now: See the stars 24 years later (and who’s reunited for another show) – Yahoo

    “Reba” cast, then and now: See the stars 24 years later (and who’s reunited for another show) – Yahoo

    Why Taylor Swift Name-Dropped Elizabeth Taylor in Her New Album – Yahoo

    Here’s Why Taylor Swift Dropped Elizabeth Taylor’s Name in Her New Album

    Al Roker Gives Olivia Dean an Unexpected ‘New Job’ on the ‘Today’ Show – Yahoo

    Al Roker Shocks Olivia Dean with an Exciting New Role on the ‘Today’ Show

    Books about the arts and some haunts for a Denton October – Denton Record-Chronicle

    Uncover Artistic Treasures and Spooky Adventures to Experience in Denton This October

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Forget Cowbells. Cows Wear High-Tech Collars Now. – The New York Times

    Ditch the Cowbells: Discover the High-Tech Collars Transforming Cattle Care

    What the Recent Price Surge Means for Figure Technology Solutions After SEC Settlement – Yahoo Finance

    What the Recent Price Surge Reveals About Figure Technology Solutions Following SEC Settlement

    MAC Brings iPad Technology to Football Sidelines Across All 13 Member Schools – Sports Video Group

    MAC Brings iPad Technology to Football Sidelines Across All 13 Member Schools – Sports Video Group

    Technology Is Becoming More Important Than Humans In CX – No Jitter

    Technology Is Becoming More Important Than Humans In CX – No Jitter

    A Tech Expo Shows What China Can Make, but Not Who’ll Buy It All – The New York Times

    Inside China’s Tech Expo: Cutting-Edge Innovations Face Uncertain Demand

    Steampunk Metal Oval Technology Sense Sunglasses Personality Handmade Chain Multicolor Sunglasses UV400 – The San Joaquin Valley Sun

    Steampunk Metal Oval Sunglasses with Handmade Multicolor Chain – Bold UV400 Protection and Unique Style

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home General

Safeguarding Israel with Torah study

March 13, 2024
in General
Safeguarding Israel with Torah study
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

(RNS) — It’s a perennial but repeatedly back-burnered issue in Israel: Should haredim (often called “ultra-Orthodox Jews”) who are studying religious texts full time be conscripted into military service?

For obvious reasons, the question has come to the fore again. In the weeks after Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, the desire to defend their country militarily overrode for many the exemption Haredi Jews are given from the mandatory military stints served by other Israelis, men and women. By the end of October it was estimated that some 2,000 Haredi men had volunteered for the Israeli Defense Forces.

The exemption, long a sore point between religious and secular Israelis, dates to the state’s founding in 1948. But back in 1998, Israel’s High Court of Justice ruled that exempting Haredi students violated the legal principle of equality — here, the “equality of burden” regarding military service. Two decades of legislative attempts to resolve the issue have yielded only more court challenges and kicking of the controversial can down the road.

The sore was newly aggravated last month when a plan was put forth to remedy troop shortages caused by casualties in Gaza and threats from Hezbollah from Lebanon by extending mandatory and reserve duties for current soldiers. Conscripting Haredim was not part of the proposal.

Passing legislation enshrining the Haredi exemption or ending it has political ramifications: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long reign in that post has often depended on Haredi political parties, which oppose conscription, to support his governing majority. The current wartime coalition is no less reliant on Haredi support.

The rationale for conscripting Haredim is self-evident. Why should one segment of the population not share in the burden of military service? Why should its members be out of harm’s way when other segments of society are fighting on dangerous fronts?

Haredim understand that. Even as they insist that the exemption remain in place, they are not callous to the arguments against it. A recent report showed that as many as 30% of Haredim said they agreed that they should be subject to the draft.

There are counterarguments, of course, some more compelling than others.

Other groups — like Arab citizens and conscientious objectors — are also exempted from the Israeli draft. And danger isn’t something faced only by soldiers, as has been evident in the countless terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians, including the massive one of Oct. 7. And there are many vital military personnel, such as intelligence analysts and drone operators, who work in safe and secure environments.

But the most salient factors are simply not fully understood.

First is the threat to their religious way of life that Haredim see in entering military service. As political analyst Shmuel Rosner, no fan of Haredim, recently wrote: “I always thought that there is something dishonest in trying to claim that ultra-Orthodox can enlist in the IDF without the slightest risk to their identity as ultra-Orthodox.”

Many in Israel, of course, may not care if Haredim are able to protect their way of life, but disregarding their fears here is a decidedly illiberal stance.

The second factor that demands attention, even if not agreement, is the most germane: From a Jewish religious perspective, a force of men immersed in Torah study contributes to Israeli national security, and is indeed essential to it.

This is an ancient idea in Jewish faith. A well-known ancient Jewish source explains that, during a particular war in biblical times, 3,000 men were drafted from each tribe: 1,000 for combat, 1,000 for logistic support and 1,000 for Torah study and prayer.

A full third of eligible soldiers thus occupied spiritual units considered no less important for the war effort than logistic and combat units. That dovetails with the Talmud’s observation that “If it weren’t for David’s Torah study, Joab (the commander of King David’s army) would not have succeeded in war; and if not for Joab’s effort in battle, David would not have been able to study Torah.”

According to the medieval Jewish luminary Maimonides, the entire tribe of Levi was exempt from combat duty, and he concludes that anyone who dedicates himself to a life of Torah study is included in this category.

By forming a cadre of men studying Torah, these dedicated students sincerely, utterly and deeply believe that their work is essential to the safety and security of all their fellow citizens.

Obviously, citations from ancient Jewish sources will not impress many moderns, but for Haredim (and many non-Haredi believing Jews), they represent not a myth but a reality. It is important to view the Haredi refusal to go into combat as a question of religious liberty. Rather than being dismissed as some creative bit of draft dodging, it is, rather, a declaration of deep, sincere belief backed by the Jewish religious tradition.

So all the angst and anger born of the haredi insistence on preserving a sizable cadre of men engaged in full-time dedication to Torah study needs to be tempered by an acknowledgment that, at least in haredi eyes, those dedicated students are not evading public service but contributing to it — and in a way that, they sincerely, utterly and deeply believe, is essential to the safety and security of all their fellow citizens.

(Rabbi Avi Shafran writes widely in Jewish and general media and blogs at rabbishafran.com. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service.)

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : ReligionNews – https://religionnews.com/2024/03/12/safeguarding-israel-with-torah-study/

Previous Post

Mexico’s presidential candidates sign commitment for peace with church leaders concerned by violence

Next Post

Texas judge temporarily blocks attempt to shut down Annunciation House

World Mental Health Day Festival and gala set for this week in NYC – MSNBC News

World Mental Health Day Festival and gala set for this week in NYC – MSNBC News

October 6, 2025
Green economy means jobs for NJ, report says – NJ Spotlight News

Green economy means jobs for NJ, report says – NJ Spotlight News

October 6, 2025
Row K Entertainment Emerges as Major New Hollywood Buyer With Splashy TIFF Shopping Spree – TheWrap

Row K Entertainment Emerges as Major New Hollywood Buyer With Splashy TIFF Shopping Spree – TheWrap

October 6, 2025
Republicans are holding Americans’ health care hostage — and lying about it – MSNBC News

How Republicans Are Holding Americans’ Health Care Hostage – and Deceiving the Public

October 6, 2025
Irish language: Naomi Long says politicians are playing out ‘culture war’ – BBC

Naomi Long Slams Politicians for Igniting a Divisive ‘Culture War’ Over the Irish Language

October 6, 2025
Air quality speed run – Washington State Department of Ecology (.gov)

Battling Pollution: Washington State’s Urgent Fight for Cleaner Air

October 6, 2025
Equity in science is a beautiful lie — and I’m done pretending – Nature

Equity in science is a beautiful lie — and I’m done pretending – Nature

October 6, 2025
Explore a bird database with 11,500 species – Popular Science

Explore an Incredible Bird Database Showcasing 11,500 Stunning Species

October 6, 2025
South Shore broker funded ‘extravagant lifestyle’ with $11.6 million taken from clients and colleagues, prosecutors say – Boston.com

South Shore broker funded ‘extravagant lifestyle’ with $11.6 million taken from clients and colleagues, prosecutors say – Boston.com

October 6, 2025
QRG Capital Management Inc. Purchases 9,519 Shares of Marvell Technology, Inc. $MRVL – MarketBeat

QRG Capital Management Takes Bold Step by Acquiring 9,519 Shares of Marvell Technology

October 6, 2025

Categories

Archives

October 2025
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Sep    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (854)
  • Economy (875)
  • Entertainment (21,749)
  • General (17,446)
  • Health (9,917)
  • Lifestyle (887)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (876)
  • Politics (886)
  • Science (16,085)
  • Sports (21,375)
  • Technology (15,855)
  • World (858)

Recent News

World Mental Health Day Festival and gala set for this week in NYC – MSNBC News

World Mental Health Day Festival and gala set for this week in NYC – MSNBC News

October 6, 2025
Green economy means jobs for NJ, report says – NJ Spotlight News

Green economy means jobs for NJ, report says – NJ Spotlight News

October 6, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version