Draft orders protest from an outside perspective

I’ve been reading up on Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators blocking the main highway to protest draft orders. As an outsider, the first image that comes to my mind upon hearing, ”Ultra-Orthodox Jews” is their refusal to sit next to women on planes, leading to disagreements, even commotions. That’s what usually makes the news and it can be a bit comical.

But I wanted to know more about the reasons behind their fierce refusal to serve in the military. I’ve come across the following:

”The original reason was because the Ultra-Orthodox study and follow the Jewish religion the most closely, studying the Jewish religion full-time at an institute called a Yeshiva, so to ‘preserve’ Judaism and Jewish religious studies they were exempted from military service.

Since Israel’s founding in 1948, Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men have been exempt from military service and yeshivas have been funded by the state. Some members of the Haredim hold pacifist political views and others believe that the Jewish religious tradition forbids military service.”

It’s my understanding that some (many?) Ultra-Orthodox Jews devote themselves to studying religious texts, or religious study in general, and they don’t work. It’s fascinating, in a way, because it’s so far-removed from my reality. If genuine, it sounds like a calling from God, rather than an attempt to avoid military service. The whole draft issue is a contentious one the world over. In Poland, there are five categories A-E. A is the best and E is the worst, some jokingly call it evacuation with women and children. Men get a military booklet with their rank and category. The whole thing takes around an hour. Every man must go through the category-assignment process at 19 and some women (with psychology and medical degrees, for example). Still, the vast majority of the Polish women are exempt. It’s entirely up to them. I don’t need to tell you it causes a lot of friction here, for obvious reasons. Some say it’s treating women like damsels-in-distress who are too sensitive to be in battle.

So yeah, this is no IDF (sadly, as Ukraine is being bombed by the maniac much more frequently now).

It’s a tricky thing. Ultra-Orthodox Jews definitely have the courage to openly stand for what they believe in. They’ve demonstrated that on many occasions. Yet, given that Israel is at war, it doesn’t seem that past privileges and protections always apply. I don’t envy Israeli policymakers because – it seems to me – Ultra-Orthodox Jews won’t back down, they have their convictions no matter what and will defend their beliefs whatever it takes. It’s admirable, and worrying at the same time. I’m an outsider looking in, so it doesn’t affect me directly, but it seems like a crisis waiting to happen. Maybe already going on.

And, with the war on several fronts, and hostages still in hell, Israel doesn’t need more crises on the horizon. That’s exactly what Iran ”and friends” want. I hope the crisis can be resolved peacefully.