Orthodox Community in Israel Raises Nearly $100M in US Amid Funding Crisis for Yeshivas

Orthodox Community in Israel Raises Nearly $100M in US Amid Funding Crisis for Yeshivas

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In a significant financial mobilization, the ultra-Orthodox community in Israel has raised nearly $100 million in the United States to counter a High Court of Justice ruling that halts public funding to yeshivas with students who evade conscription into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), as was reported on Wednesday in he Times of Israel. his large-scale fundraising effort, reported originally on Tuesday, is led by prominent figures Rabbi Dov Lando, 94, and Moshe Hillel Hirsch, 87, who are the joint leaders of the non-Hasidic Lithuanian Haredi community.

The High Court’s decision, made in March, stated that the Israeli state could no longer finance yeshivas that enroll approximately 50,000 students eligible for military draft. This ruling came after the expiration of regulations that exempted members of the ultra-Orthodox community engaged in full-time Jewish studies from mandatory military service, according to the TOI report. On Tuesday, the court reaffirmed its stance, mandating the IDF to begin enlisting recruits from this community in the absence of new legislative exemptions.

The ruling has significant financial ramifications. Effective from April, it halted the allocation of NIS 270 million ($72 million) for the current year. By 2025, the funding gap is expected to widen to NIS 400 million ($106 million), further straining the yeshivas’ operational budgets. The TOI report pointed out that the potential cessation of funding for daycares catering to the children of ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students who are not drafted could exacerbate the situation.

In response to this financial crisis, the ultra-Orthodox leadership initiated a robust fundraising campaign in the United States which has successfully secured nearly $100 million. As was noted in the TOI report, while this amount falls short of the long-term financial needs of the yeshivas, it provides critical short-term relief, allowing these institutions to continue their operations amidst severe budget constraints.

The funds raised are intended to offer “breathing room” to the yeshivas, enabling them to navigate the immediate financial challenges posed by the loss of state support. The report in the TOI suggested that this interim solution is crucial as the community seeks more sustainable financial models and potentially new legislative measures to address the funding shortfall.

The High Court’s ruling and the subsequent fundraising efforts highlight the deep-seated tensions between the ultra-Orthodox community and the broader Israeli society regarding military service and state support for religious education. The ultra-Orthodox community largely opposes army service on religious grounds, advocating for the continuation of exemptions that allow their youth to focus on religious studies.

The fundraising success in the United States underscores the global support for the ultra-Orthodox cause and the importance of yeshiva education within this community. However, the reliance on foreign donations also reflects the precarious financial position of these institutions without state support.

Israeli lawmakers are now faced with the challenge of balancing the High Court’s mandate with the socio-political dynamics of a significant and influential segment of the population. The absence of new legislative measures to address draft exemptions creates uncertainty and potential unrest within the ultra-Orthodox community, which views the forced conscription of their youth as an infringement on their religious freedom, according to the TOI report.

The non-Hasidic Haredi communities, often referred to as Lithuanian due to their historical concentration in that part of Eastern Europe, are among the staunchest opponents of military service, the TOI report indicated. These communities, led by figures such as Rabbi Dov Lando and Moshe Hillel Hirsch, have been particularly vocal in their resistance, viewing conscription as incompatible with their religious commitments.

Other branches of the Haredi world, including Hasidic communities and Sephardic or Mizrahi groups originating from the Middle East and North Africa, also oppose military service, though their resistance varies in intensity, the report mentioned. The unity in opposition highlights a common religious stance but also calls attention to the internal differences in how these groups engage with state mandates and secular society.

According to a report by the notoriously left-wing Haaretz newspaper in Israel, it remains uncertain whether the funds raised in the United States will be distributed across these diverse ultra-Orthodox groups or be concentrated within the Lithuanian Haredi community.

Ultra-Orthodox lawmakers are currently attempting to pass legislation that would extend conscription exemptions for yeshiva students. This legislative push has sparked significant opposition within the Knesset, including dissent from members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s own coalition, as per the information contained in the TOI report. The debate over these exemptions has created a substantial rift within the coalition, threatening its stability.

Some ultra-Orthodox politicians have hinted at potentially bringing down the government if the exemption legislation fails. However, the TOI reported that there is skepticism about these threats, with some insiders suggesting that the ultra-Orthodox parties have little choice but to remain within the coalition due to their reliance on its political support.

“We’ll leave the government and then what? We don’t have a choice but to stay,” an ultra-Orthodox politician reportedly told Haaretz, indicating the precarious balance of power and the high stakes involved in this political struggle, according to the TOI.

In compliance with the High Court’s decision, the IDF has begun preparations to conscript ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students. Channel 13 news in Israel reported that the IDF is prepared to draft approximately 3,000 Haredi men out of the 63,000 who are legally required to serve, as was reported by the TOI. To facilitate this process, the military is establishing male-only conscription centers with specialized kashrut standards to accommodate the religious needs of these recruits.

This move by the IDF is not merely a logistical challenge but a significant cultural shift, as it brings the issue of conscription directly into the heart of the ultra-Orthodox community.  The preparations highlight the military’s efforts to respect religious practices while enforcing the law, a delicate balance that will be closely watched by all parties involved.

For decades, the ultra-Orthodox community in Israel has enjoyed exemptions from military service, a privilege that has become increasingly contentious in light of recent events and societal shifts. Nearly all Jewish males and most females are conscripted into the IDF at the age of 18, a requirement seen as a crucial element of national duty and unity, as was indicated in the TOI report. However, the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the resulting strain on IDF manpower have intensified debates over these exemptions, with many arguing that the ultra-Orthodox should share the burden of military service.

The exemption for the ultra-Orthodox dates back to the early years of the state, intended to preserve the religious and scholarly life of a community devastated by the Holocaust. Over time, as the ultra-Orthodox population grew, so did the number of exemptions, leading to widespread frustration among the broader Israeli society, as was stated in the TOI report. Critics argue that the exemptions are unfair, particularly as the IDF faces manpower shortages. The current war in Gaza has brought this issue to the forefront, with calls to draft ultra-Orthodox men rather than extending enlistment terms for other soldiers.

The ultra-Orthodox community views forced conscription as a profound threat to their way of life. Military service would require compromises on strict religious practices, including kosher dietary laws and gender segregation, as was explained in the TOI report. The community’s resistance is not merely passive; it is deeply ideological. Signs proclaiming a preference for prison or even death over army service are common in protests against conscription efforts, according to the TOI report.  This staunch opposition highlights the significant cultural and religious barriers to integrating the ultra-Orthodox into the military.

Over the years, the IDF has attempted to address the concerns of the ultra-Orthodox community by creating special units designed to accommodate their religious needs. These units offer stricter kosher supervision and gender-segregated environments. Despite these efforts, the TOI report said that the success has been limited, with only a modest number of ultra-Orthodox men enlisting.

Recognizing the complexities of conscripting thousands of ideologically opposed citizens, the IDF has shifted its approach towards voluntary enlistment. Outreach campaigns aim to encourage ultra-Orthodox men who might be interested in serving to join the IDF on their own terms. The TOI report said that this strategy respects the community’s autonomy while seeking to integrate willing individuals into military service. The IDF has explicitly stated that it does not intend to send military police into yeshivas to enforce conscription, acknowledging that such measures would likely be counterproductive and exacerbate tensions.

For those ultra-Orthodox men who do enlist, the IDF is considering specialized roles that might be more acceptable to the community. One such initiative is a “Jordanian border pilot program,” which would utilize ultra-Orthodox soldiers in a specific and potentially less controversial capacity, according to the TOI report. These targeted programs aim to find a middle ground, enabling the ultra-Orthodox to contribute to national defense while respecting their religious convictions.

The High Court’s draft decision came after the expiration of previous legislative and administrative arrangements that had exempted ultra-Orthodox men from military service. The TOI reported that the court also declared illegal a June 2023 government directive that instructed the army not to draft these men despite the expired law. The justices emphasized that the conscription process must begin immediately, although they allowed for a gradual implementation.

The court’s ruling also permanently barred state funding for ultra-Orthodox yeshivas that serve students who are studying there in lieu of military service, the report noted. These funds were previously tied to the IDF service exemptions, which are no longer valid under the new legal framework.

In response to the High Court’s decision, the Attorney General’s Office instructed the IDF to draft 3,000 ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students beginning July 1, according to the information in the TOI report. This marks the start of a significant transition as the IDF prepares to integrate these recruits while respecting their religious practices.

However, the TOI observed that the court’s decision also reflects broader societal demands for equal participation in national duties. Many Israelis have long viewed the exemptions as unfair, particularly as the IDF faces manpower shortages exacerbated by ongoing conflicts, such as the war in Gaza. The integration of ultra-Orthodox men into the IDF is seen by many as a step towards greater national unity and shared responsibility.