How to Draft the Haredim and Win the War

For as long as I can remember, the same people are making the same arguments about the military status of Jews who devote their entire lives to God. It’s like a broken record. Everybody makes the same argument, and nothing gets achieved.  

Meanwhile, we still have to fight wars. We still have to endure tragedy.  There has to be a better way to fill our army to full strength and win these wars so our beloved sons will be safe. 

Perhaps we are looking at this the wrong way? Instead of focusing on more soldiers to meet the current standard, what if we changed the standard? 

If we took these three actions, the argument over Haredim in Israel would be resolved as would our military needs.  

#1 Make Every Citizen Haredi 

In the Gemara, tractate Brachot, we learn that there is no tribulation without transgression. Whenever tragedy befalls Israel, Hashem cries over the fact that we lack the merit of His protection. 

The only October 7 probe that matters is a harsh accounting of our own sins. Let the government worry about what it did wrong. Let the army concern itself with its own areas of improvement.  

For the nation, we must publicize all the sins we are guilty of and repent for them. Since every Jew is responsible for one another, the sin of one Jew is the sin of every Jew. We must all strive to make improvements for ourselves and one another.  

The following forbidden behaviors are permitted in our non-Haredi state, and we must improve in these areas: 

• Sodomy  
• Loshon hara and hatred at every level  
• Immodesty and the horrors that come with it  
• Desecration of Shabbat and Hashem’s holy days 

Even worse, the Israeli army actively breaks Jewish law, such as mandating that men serve in mixed units with women. The army itself admits that it is nowhere close to being able to meet the needs of truly Haredi men en masse – they can’t even feed them kosher food to their standards, forget about anything else. Many soldiers are quietly admitting that the army is a secularization tool, so it’s only understandable that Haredim are refusing to enter its ranks and risk being tested past their abilities to stay strong in their religious practice. 

And the rules of engagement that the army follows is international law, not Jewish law. Although they have many similarities, they are not exactly the same and the differences are critical. Furthermore, decisions are made by an army that not only is secular but actively refuses to allow religious Jews into its upper ranks. 

So, if the State of Israel wants them to fight, give them something to fight for!  

It’s no news that we need God to fight our wars for us. None of the Israeli victories in war make sense from a strictly military standpoint. The Torah specifically states that God will go out before the Jews in war if the camp is holy, lest God turn away from them! 

So, what we really need is not more soldiers, but more holiness! Turning masses of Haredim into secular soldiers is the exact OPPOSITE of the solution! 

Instead, let’s enshrine into national law: 

• Standards of proper speech 
• Modest dress code 
• Shabbat observance 
• Stringent punishment for any attack on each other  

Let’s reintroduce Torah, Gemara, halacha, and mussar into our education system – and the army itself. Let’s transform life in Israel to become so Jewish that every citizen becomes Haredi.  

When the next draft notices are issued, either everybody serves or nobody serves.  

#2 Make Every Soldier Haredi 

Why should there be a special Jewish Battalion in the army of a Jewish nation? Shouldn’t the entire army be Jewish? 

What if the same laws of Jewish conduct that applied to every citizen also applied to every soldier? 

What if a soldier’s commitment to Hashem and His mitzvot were as important to his military career as his knowledge of war tactics and accuracy in shooting a gun? 

When God commanded Gidon to pick 300 men to fight, He didn’t tell him to pick the best soldiers. He commanded him to pick the most God-fearing Jews.  

The miracle against the Greeks in the days of the Hasmoneans was due to the holiness of our Maccabi tzaddikim, not their experience as soldiers.  

If we trained our soldiers to fear God, becoming as proficient in Torah as in warfare, we would not be able to distinguish between drafting religious conscripts and secular ones.  

They would all be Haredi.  

#3 Allow Everyone to Dodge the Draft  

What will happen when the laws of our nation are the laws of the Torah? 

What will happen when the people of our nation are all Torah-observant?  

What will happen if the highest ideal of the army is to be holy? 

There won’t be any more wars.  We won’t need any more soldiers.  Hashem will bless us, as He promises in parsha Ki Tavo, that we won’t need to fight. He will fight for us, and our enemies will be annihilated.  

As we return to Hashem on a national level by making Torah the law of the land, the number of troops we will need to fight our wars will decrease, and we won’t need to bother Haredim with anything beyond providing them with everything they need to learn Torah and serve Hashem. 

Knowing this, it’s so important that we all push our Divine service to the max, and beyond. This is what we can do for all our brothers and sisters who, Hashem willing, will always be safe and sound.

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David Ben Horin lives in the Jezreel Valley with his family, Afula’s famous sunflowers, and the local camel, Matilda. David loves to write about Judaism, Torah, Israel, and personal happiness.