Don't exempt us from the Israeli army – include us - opinion

Attorney David Page argues in a Jerusalem Post opinion piece that haredi Jews are willing to serve in the IDF, but only if the army accommodates their religious observance. He proposes five conditions including haredi command, a council of Torah sages, and statutory guarantees on Shabbat and kashrut, and contends that changing the offer would bring motivated haredi soldiers.

In an opinion piece published in The Jerusalem Post on November 4, 2026, attorney David Page argues that haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jews are willing to serve in the IDF, but not at the cost of their religious observance. He compares the situation to a restaurateur who opens a non-kosher steakhouse in Bnei Brak and then complains that locals hate food. Page contends that the premise behind cutting haredi benefits over draft avoidance is wrong: haredim do not refuse to defend their people, but refuse to do so in an army that has historically demanded the surrender of their Torah observance. He cites biblical and rabbinic sources to argue that the Torah envisions an army where prayer and holiness are integral to military strength. Page proposes five conditions for haredi integration: haredi command from platoon to general staff; a council of Torah sages consulted on Halacha; haredi units in all branches including intelligence and cyber; statutory guarantees on kashrut, Shabbat, and prayer time; and recognition of the beit midrash as a form of service. He concludes that if the IDF builds the army the Torah describes, haredi soldiers will come with deep patriotism and faith.