Torah Does Not Exempt from Draft: Smotrich Attacks Haredi Politicians

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told Bnei Akiva youth that Torah study does not exempt one from military service and is not an escape from bearing the national and military burden. He interpreted the verse 'Who is the man who is fearful and faint-hearted' as referring to one who fears his sins, adding that the righteous and yeshiva students are worthy of entering the camp of Israel. His remarks come amid criticism of the Haredi parties' stance.

Finance Minister and Religious Zionism party leader Bezalel Smotrich, during a Bnei Akiva gathering where he appeared alongside the movement's secretary-general Yigal Klein, addressed the issue of integrating Torah and military service. Smotrich clarified that Torah study should not serve as an escape from bearing the national and military burden, but rather the opposite. He quoted the verse 'Who is the man who is fearful and faint-hearted? Let him go and return to his house' and interpreted it as referring to one who fears his sins, not as an exemption from conscription. He further added that the great righteous, Torah scholars, and diligent yeshiva students are the ones worthy of entering the camp of Israel, and through them God saves the people from their enemies. These remarks come amid criticism of the Haredi parties' stance on conscription, although the article does not detail their position or include their response.