The head of the prominent Sephardic yeshiva Porat Yosef, Rabbi Moshe Tzadka, penned a letter to Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri, urging him to resist any efforts aimed at enlisting ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students into the IDF. According to Rabbi Tzadka, proponents of the new conscription law seek to gradually exert control over the ultra-Orthodox community.
In his letter, the author denounces the plans to draft yeshiva students as a "malicious plot," likening them to the actions of the Amalekites, who targeted the Jews upon their exodus from Egypt. "They proceed in stages, targeting primarily those who struggle academically and are spiritually vulnerable," Tzadka asserts.
Rabbi Tzadka contends that conscripting yeshiva students into the military constitutes spiritual destruction and must be staunchly opposed.
"We should not weigh the pros and cons, but rather fight for every individual, including those not enrolled in educational institutions," emphasizes the yeshiva head. He underscores that the proponents of conscription aim to "eradicate the Torah."
Additionally, Rabbi Tzadka recalls that esteemed ultra-Orthodox rabbis of the past, such as R. Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz and R. Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik, vehemently forbade not only girls but also boys from serving in the army.
