Former Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef addressed the issue of drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews into the IDF during his weekly lecture on Saturday night. He spoke about how to respond if military police attempt to arrest yeshiva students who have not reported to recruitment offices.
“The military police do not enter yeshivas, don’t be afraid,” Yosef said. “If the military police come—stand up to them. Sit, study diligently, but with even greater devotion.” He did not clarify what he meant by “stand up to them.”
Yosef reiterated his longstanding message that Torah study protects Israel. “The soldiers get their strength from you,” he said. “Those who were saved from the Houthis’ missiles owe it to your Torah. Anyone who says otherwise is a heretic.”
In recent weeks, Yosef has repeatedly spoken out against drafting Haredim into the IDF. Two weeks ago, he criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the government should have passed the conscription law before approving the state budget, as stipulated in the coalition agreement.
Yosef, who has also threatened that yeshiva students would leave the country if forced to enlist, recounted in May that he personally tore up a draft notice. “On Thursday, someone brought me a draft order and an arrest warrant. I took it and tore it up,” he told his audience.
In that same lecture, Yosef also lashed out at the political right. “What is this? A Torah scholar! For 77 years, the state has existed, and no one imagined such a thing. Right, right, right—crazy people. We must pray to God that He brings all of Israel back to repentance, that they leave us alone, the Torah students, the scholars, so that we can study in peace and safety.”