IDF: No coercion of haredi soldiers Army informs haredi soldiers that they will not be forced to attend military ceremonies featuring female performers. Arn.Sweden.

The only question I have is if the Army didn't start this whole 'brew haha' davka to keep the Haredim out of the army and keep us in the Yeshivas. Pity, it would have been much better for us to integrate into the work force. I know, I made Aliyah at age 30 and I work in Hi-Tech. Thank guys!

Charedim make very good soldiers.

While this is all a tempest in a teapot, the question is whether this whole matter was cooked up by people with an agenda, such as to cool off the trend of observant enlistees.

To force some one to go against their religious convictions is coercion. Just like the seculars would not like the police to force them to stop driving on the Shabbat, so too, the charadim do not like the army forcing them to attend musicals (and who needs them?) which are against their religious principles.

Well, what does that mean? Normally in an army all soldiers are equal, but seems the haredi can do what they want while the poor rest of the others has still to obey? A secular soldier has no way to evade orderes he/she didnt like, but haredi can do that anytime they want? That dosnt sound fair and equal to me, sorry...

in Jewish laws and customs. He probably saw the issue as one of discipline. How can the army rely on soldiers that just do what they want, even against orders? But, had he understood that a religious Jew will even violate Shabbat in order to protect others from harm, he would have dismissed the Haredi walk-out as an act of religious freedom. The circumstances were not operational.

This was the status quo until a month ago. When the army brought "entertainers" that some soldiers might prefer not to see, the soldiers were informed ahead of time and they opted out. Then some idiot commander decided to surprise the soldiers, and when they tried to leave, publically humiliated them. This decision brings back the status quo that some idiot tried to change. The damage has been done.

Will they or will they not be forced, at some stage, to listen to women singing? One report, yes, the next no, the next some but not others, or maybe according to how anti the commander is. Come on Army. This is such a non-issue in terms of what the army is supposed to do. Make it clear. Are you or are you not going to discourage your fighting force?

...take your exemption for being holier than thou and go home. Is anyone else able to write their own terms for serving in the army? ARe haredi vets, by the way, getting double benefits? The usual haredi payments and veterans benefits?