Rabbi Dov Lando must explain his opposition to haredi IDF service - opinion

An opinion piece argues that Rabbi Dov Lando must explain his opposition to haredi IDF service under Jewish law, citing the principle of pikuach nefesh. The author questions the ethics of urging young men to ignore call-up notices in a country facing existential threats, and notes that some haredi youth who wish to serve face pressure from parents and Lando.

An opinion piece by Greer Fay Cashman argues that Rabbi Dov Lando, co-chair of the Slobodke Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, must explain his opposition to haredi IDF service under Jewish law. The author contends that Lando's rulings against conscription violate the halachic principle of pikuach nefesh, which permits breaking most laws to save life, given Israel's existential threats. The article notes that some haredi young men who wish to serve face pressure from parents and Lando, and questions the ethics of urging evasion of call-up notices. The piece also draws a comparison to haredi use of technology, suggesting inconsistency in Lando's authority.