...and Justice prevail,Israel will be a much more solidary country.

The yeshiva teaches them to be honest and then the IDF tells them to steal homes from Jews and turn their birthright over to terrorist scum? Sheron destroyed the morality of the IDF. It will never have the morality that it once had.

this is ridiculous. we have to risk our lives against the arabs and for what? so schmuli can learn another parcha?! So much for equality. This is wrong and unfair, the religious should fight and stop leeching off our tax dollars. if they wont fight, at least do something to contribute to the state. if they wont do that, give them to the arabs.

1)Israel needs both spiritual and physical protection. The study of Torah protects Jews and the of course you have the combat units who physically carry out the tasks. 2) in most countries when you fight for your land and gain territories, its usually not lost by there own government, so why stand on the front lines when it inevitably falls back. 3) the army is notorious for unethical and immodest behavior, why put religious boys in a potentially unholy/unethical/immodest circumstance.

Not to mention, religious Zionists who want to enlist are rejected because they might"refuse orders" to expel other Jews instead of fighting the Arabs.

As a senior officer in an elite combat unit and a religious Jew, I don’t believe that all Jews should serve it is not about equality rather about need, want and will. Let me explain, Israel is not the Israeli home, it is the Jewish Homeland, according to custom and halacha their are several ways to serve the Homeland, Physical and Spiritual, so the youth who do not serve as a result of spiritual beliefs are still serving Eretz Israel. Those that refuse to serve due to some other beliefs are the ones that should be put on the podium. You have a government, governing over our homeland and they are actually no different from any of the previous governments that don’t look at governing our homeland but rather looking out for self interest, again I will explain, since gaining international independence, we have never had a true majority government, what we have is a splinter government, with all the bickering and self opinionated people in parliament today and yesterday we cant even rule ourselves. This is the weakest government in history. So if one chooses Torah over the IDF there is nothing wrong with that, however if one chooses nothing then there is something wrong with that. Dan Halutz is a pompous general who acts no different than our pompous enemies, his comments are dumb and he acts as if he owns Israel, well news flash the people of Israel own Israel. So Yeshiva bochers, please please for our sake give us the spiritual power to protect our beloved land from those who would seek to destroy it, and they include Halutz, Olmert, Peretz, protect our soldiers from being sent on missions that endanger them, Bizrat Hashem, we will soon see the coming of Mashiach and finally we can live in peace.

Get creative and devise alternate public service for the ultra orthodox: health care, education, sanitation.

Read Catherine Glick article in JPost online "Our World: The IDF's suicide attempt' the IDF is lying.

CORRECTION: Religious men and women DO serve 100% in the army and Sheirut leumi , it's only most of the hareidim who suck off

That's what Hesder Yeshivot stand for/ We need no more parasites 100%/ Instead National religious youth study AND serve in the army. That would solve your problem/ num. 1 -- AS for num 2- the Israeli army does not exist to fight and gain territory, we need haredi soldiers for what our army basically stands for: DEFENDING this country, independently of the lunatics who were chosen to rule this country and what their desitions are . And as for num. 3 -I would simply say or inform you that we have a Nahal Hareidi Army unit, where questions of ethics or modesty are even non existent, since it is a unit tailored specially for hareidi needs Any comments??????

They only want to receive "PAY-ORDERS"

"Time To Recognize Facts" says the article. Fact #1-- The army has too many soldiers in its ranks right now. Fact #2-- They dont want chareidim in the system who will insist on remaining chareidi while serving in the army. Chareidim will insist on having all male units, kosher lemehadrin food, more time off for prayer and learning to name a few.

It is absolutely immoral that Haredim avoid serving our country by making the false claim that they are helping to protect the country by doing Torah study. This is complete misuse and abuse of Torah by Haredim in order to pursue their own self interests. Most of them, but all, cut themselves off from the rest of the community and do nothing for the country. But they love to take handouts. They take but never give anything in return!

OK you convinced me, they should not be drafted to the aramy. But why should they be parasites, unproductive and still get so much money from the state while the productive people do not get such benefits. Why a student who served in the army and risked his life has to pay for university and work hard to finance his other needs while the haredim get everything from the state. WHY.

Oh please prey tell Liora, where is the lie, are you scared of the truth, if you really want to add an objective response say more than "Thou shalt not lie!!!!" as it actually is "Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" which is exactly what you have just done, tshuva for you, but I forgive you.

A point that most people are missing is that more secular youth are opting to avoid the draft than ever before. Their numbers now exceed those of the Haredi Yeshiva students. The Haredi Yeshiva students are praying for Israel's survival, what are the secular drop outs doing? It is about time the truth be told & the real facts be reported by the press. Stop Haredi bashing!

is what Israel will become if we cease to be united in this one thing. A people's army ensures the people's survival.

or 3 years. They need to be part of the state experience during their transition to adulthood. It also wouldnt do them any harm to mix with the "new jews". Israel's identity rests on the inclusion of all who recive support as citizens of Israel for them to pay their honour and pride taxes. Serve! If not IDF, then a community, civil or social service. Show us that you are our brothers.

earth where wars are won and survival ensured by brave people who give all the have , not by scrounging wimps who pray as an excuse for participating. No war in history was ever won by prayer, get real.

There are times when I am really ,really ashamed to be Jewish. These are when I hear Haradim described as parasites , talabans, shirkers. To you disgusting and ignorant people who make these comments, who dispise your fellow Jew, who have no respect for the Torah, no respect for your traditions. It is because your fore fathers were Haradim that you are Jewish.. Look into the future what will your children be? Yes there issues that need to be resolved. But to start off by saying that Haradim contribute nothing is positively evil and false. You are saying the study of the Torah is worthlesss, then there is something wrong with your heart and your soul.

You may have heard of the best selling book of all time. Its called the Torah. I suggest you read it. All the wars there in were won with the assistance of prayers. This book is the source of your Jewishness. Your great forebearer Yaakov Avinu has much to teach you about facing your enemies.

a) Hesder Yesivah learns half the time and serves the other half of the time. Yeshiavh Students study 100% of the time. b), the fact that Israel has such a pathetic government is exactly why there needs to be an increase to Torah study.. c) I have friends who serve in Nahal Hareidi, they told me that they constantly find them selves serving with females...

you don’t have to convince me about hareidi attitude concerning politics and hand outs, I am very much aware of the corruption, and how they will literary do anything for money... the fact is that Israel was based on socialist ideals by secular Jews, consequently at the end of the day if there are avenues in which to receive social benefits, why not take advantage. its funny how secular Zionism ideals is the largest threat to modern secular Israel... e.g. democracy: Religious Jew are having more kids and more rapidly, in few years there will be a religious majority. Socialism: the religious Jew are probably (considering the size of their families and the lack of professionalism ) are the largest beneficiary of social benefits...

Check out this web site; www.Jihadwatch.org It doesn't have to do with this story but it makes for compelling reading. There is a storm brewing out of Iran.

You are absolutely right, the Haredim should not be called parasites etc. and I'm apologizing for using this term. However, are you claiming that all the 45,000 military evaders are talented students and capable of studying the Torah in-depth?. It is actually tantamount to saying that all the people of Herzliya are capable of studying mathematics in-depth. What hurts me is the fact that the ones who can not perform in-depth study of the Torah, are not joining the work force and support their own families instead of getting allowances from the tax payer money. I am claiming that these people are using the Torah as a tool to evade any responsibility and as a result they are a burden on the Israeli society (which does not have extra resources). I am fully behind the rule that the most talented ones will be engaged solely in studying Torah in the Yeshiva, BUT ONLY THESE ONES..

The secular authorities in Israel think not! Our authentic Jewish traditions say: YES! Jewish Law dictates that a Talmid Chacham (Torah scholar) is served first when he shops and that we must all stand out of respect when a Torah scholar enter the room or walks past. Why? don't we believe in equality? No, we do not. G-D is not equal to anyone or anything else, and his closest servants are not equal either. Those who cling to G-D through serving Him and studying his laws, day and night do not exist on the same plane as the rest of us. And the truth is that the secular Israelis--for all their posturing--don't believe in equality either. It depends on "whose ox is gored." General Dan Halutz, himself, is very careful to enforce the privileges of his rank. Recently, when a celebrated soldier refused to shake Halutz's hand at a national awards ceremony, the General insisted that the officer be disciplined. The members of the Israeli Knesset get all kinds of perks that other Israelis can only dream of. No, the real issue is not equality--it is the overriding importance the true Talmid Chacham in the life of the Nation. Those who understand the true worth of true servants of G-D, realize that it is they--and only they--who truly guarantee the continued existence of the Yishuv in Israel, in safety and prosperity. This is the security umbrella that protects Halutz and his IDF when he goes into the field. Many years ago, a military analyst at the US Army Military Academy at West Point (where all Army officers are trained) observed that, by military standards alone, Israel should have lost many of its wars. He agreed that Israel's successes could only be attributed to miraculous intervention from Heaven. If we wish to maintain our security umbrella, we had best not interfere with our Torah scholars.

you cannot be a stakeholder in israel i society if you do not contribute. the issue that the orthodox who abuse the system in order to not contribute anything -- which is what the ramatkal said -- is very problematic. if the orthodox who do not want to serve also refuse to do tikkun olam in the framework of national service -- which is the crux of the issue -- then all of their religious observance is a joke and there are far more rabbinic sources to back this up as opposed the the opposing perspective.

Excuse me thiis is a democratic country. If the high court decrees a law we all must abide by it. That is a democracy But no we have guys like Dan Halutz who think they are above the law. Nobody cares what he thinks. If the Dayan SOLDIER WAS REMOVED FOR NOT SHAKING KING Halutz's hand then king halutz should be removed for arguing with the high court ruling. That goes for anyone else including yakov shani.

In the last 5 years you wouldn't find son's of Olmert and other Kadima officials wounded. Who defends Israel. Not Olmert's sons. Who lives in dengerous places. Noy Olmet's sons. Why they do not serve???