Common Ground: An Agricultural Solution to the Haredi Draft Crisis

Of the many issues currently dividing Israeli society, the Haredi draft exemption has become the most intolerable. In those terrifying first weeks of the war, the unprecedented country-wide mobilization seeded optimism that the Haredim who resisted serving in the IDF on ideological grounds, would recognize the harsh reality of the situation, and join. The urgency of the situation was totally in synch with Halakha’s demands around matters of life and death. In a milchemet mitzvah, a non-discretionary, defensive war, even a groom from under his bridal canopy, must join in the battle. We so ardently believed that from this perilous moment in our shared history, a sense of joint destiny would shake up every sector of society to rise to the critical needs of the hour.

Once again, as in other sorry episodes in our history, the mix of religion and politics did not enhance either. As countless young men fell in this terrible war, a predominance of them, Torah-observant, Haredi leadership doubled down on rejecting the prospect of drafting young Haredim (while at the same time working to perpetuate the government subsidies upon which their communities exist). Their concerns about exposing their children to the world outside their jurisdiction, and specifically to the varied population which characterizes the IDF, has been taken with utmost seriousness in recent years, and, notably in the past year. The IDF has been highly receptive to making every accommodation in order to allow Haredi men to be drafted. The current IDF Hashmonaim program, designed to provide an almost hermetic environment for Haredi recruits, is the most recent initiative, which, once again is proving to be a very expensive disappointment.

While the complex underpinnings of this divisive issue cannot be easily resolved, I believe that for all the disagreements, we do share common ground. Literally.

Members of the Haredi community are careful to refer to Israel as Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel, distinguishing the (flawed) political entity from the religious-ideological one. Alongside a rejection of the State, life lived in Eretz Yisrael is nonetheless viewed as superior to living outside of it. The land itself carries holiness. A myriad of Biblical laws are exclusive to those residing in the Land of Israel. These Torah laws relating to the Land of Israel, have been integrated into life in Israel – from taking Biblically-mandated tithes to observing the seventh Sabbatical year, in all its varieties.

So, can we agree – that about the sanctity of the Land, there is no argument. Can this not be used as a springboard for active change?

Rather than lobbing intractable ideological differences again and again directly into the arms of the Defense establishment, would it not be possible to “draft” Haredi yeshiva students for two years of agricultural service? To tend to the needs of the Land of Israel? These communities of farmers would be built to maintain Haredi values and lifestyle, while training and functioning as active farmers. Days would consist of prayer at the appointed times, work in the fields and the rest of the day devoted to Torah studies. The IDF would provide appropriate Basic Training, with the aim of preparing each recruit for regular guard duty in their own community. Additional training would be in the area of agriculture, and might have the added benefit of serving as the basis for future work.

In the past year plus, while fighting a multi-front war, our precious farm land has also been under siege: physically– in the line of fire, or untended due to the critical lack of people to work the land. The necessity to bring workers from abroad will likely be a constant, but this rotating workforce would provide an important service to this Land, as well as to the State. At least on that, we can all agree.