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Shas Advances Controversial Torah Study Law Amid Ongoing Conflicts
Shas pushes tone-deaf Torah study law while soldiers die in Lebanon, Gaza - comment
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Amid escalating military conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza, Shas chairman Arye Deri is pushing the Basic Law: Torah Study, which aims to legally anchor the status of yeshiva students. Critics argue this move is tone-deaf and undermines the sacrifices of soldiers, reflecting a significant divide in Israeli society.
- 01The Basic Law: Torah Study aims to legally establish the status of yeshiva students in Israel.
- 02Critics, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party, objected to the bill's original provision equating Torah study with military service.
- 03The bill's advancement during ongoing military conflicts has been criticized as tone-deaf and disconnected from the realities faced by soldiers and their families.
- 04The legislation seeks to provide constitutional protection for Torah study, complicating future judicial reviews of draft exemptions for yeshiva students.
- 05The coalition's push for this law reflects a broader effort to entrench existing exemptions for haredi individuals from military service.
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Shas chairman Arye Deri's push for the Basic Law: Torah Study comes at a time of heightened military conflict, with Israeli soldiers facing significant dangers in Lebanon and Gaza. This legislation aims to legally establish the status of yeshiva students, equating their long-term Torah study with military service, a comparison that has drawn sharp criticism. Critics argue that this reflects a disconnection from the sacrifices made by soldiers, many of whom are serving multiple tours of duty. Even within the coalition, there is dissent; Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party has expressed concerns over the bill's implications. Although the controversial clause equating Torah study with military service has been revised, the law's advancement as a Basic Law is significant, as it would grant Torah study constitutional protection, complicating future judicial reviews of draft exemptions. This legislative push, occurring alongside other bills aimed at restoring benefits for families of draft evaders, indicates a broader strategy to entrench the current exemptions for haredi individuals, highlighting the growing divide in Israeli society regarding military service and religious obligations.
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The legislation could significantly alter the legal landscape regarding military service exemptions for haredi individuals, affecting the balance of rights and responsibilities in Israeli society.
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