'State is waging war against God and Torah': Sephardic Rabbis oppose conscription

Prominent Sephardi rabbis have penned an open letter explaining their opposition to the Haredi draft, speculating on the government's motives, and urging the ultra-religious population to follow only the guidance of rabbis and resist any attempts by government authorities to control them or diminish their numbers.

Political commentator Amit Segal shared this letter, signed by eighteen influential rabbis along with a list of the yeshivas they lead, on his Telegram channel.

The rabbis stress that the Jewish people are safeguarded solely by God and the Torah He has bestowed. They assert that faith in God is crucial for the Jewish people's survival, citing recent events in Israel as proof of this belief.

The rabbis condemn the government's actions, accusing it of sowing discord and attempting to secularize the ultra-religious community. They unite to defend the position of the holy Torah.

Rejecting any proposals for tailored programs or service projects for ultra-religious conscripts, the rabbis denounce them as part of a sinister plan to secularize and diminish the Torah-observant population in the state.

The rabbis remind their followers of their colleagues' directive to abstain from joining the military or any alternative service, emphasizing their full support for this stance. They argue that involving Haredim in any form of service would have far-reaching consequences for society and declare their unwillingness to compromise on this issue.

Asserting that Haredim are committed to Torah study above all else, the rabbis declare that neither arrests nor imprisonment will deter them. They urge their followers to financially support ultra-religious educational institutions, which may lose state funding due to their refusal to participate in military service, and to protest against any attempts at assimilation disguised as conscription.