Shas Rabbis in Harsh Letter Against High Court: 'A Campaign of Forced Apostasy'

The Council of Torah Sages of Shas published a harsh statement against the High Court of Justice ahead of the hearing on petitions against the law freezing arrests of yeshiva students. The rabbis clarify that they do not recognize the High Court's authority to discuss the issue, and determine that drafting yeshiva students whose Torah is their profession is forbidden by Jewish law, while emphasizing their central role in protecting the people of Israel through Torah study.

Ahead of the High Court hearing on petitions against the law freezing arrests of yeshiva students, the Council of Torah Sages of Shas published a harsh statement to the Supreme Court justices. In the letter, the rabbis clarify that they do not recognize the High Court's authority to discuss the issue, and determine that drafting yeshiva students whose Torah is their profession is forbidden by Jewish law. The rabbis base their position on sources from the Talmud and the rulings of Maimonides, and argue that Torah scholars play a central role in protecting the people of Israel through Torah study, and therefore they should not be drafted even during a mandatory war. The letter also addresses the claim of 'equality in the burden,' and argues that alongside the military burden there is a 'spiritual burden' of Torah labor, which ensures the existence and security of the people of Israel. It concludes: 'He who harms the yeshiva students and tries to stop them from their study and Torah, directly harms national security.'