The issue of ultra-Orthodox (“Haredi”) draft into the Israel Defense Force has polarized Israeli society for decades. But since Oct. 7, the conversation has heated up as the need for a larger army has become increasingly clear.
In this episode of “Basic Law,” Aylana Meisel, executive director of the Israel Law and Liberty Forum, is joined by Rabbi Dr. Yehoshua Pfeffer, rabbinical judge, legal scholar and founder of the Iyun Institute, for a deep dive into one of Israel’s most contentious legal and societal issues: the Haredi military draft exemption.
Together, they explore:
- The legal history of the draft exemption
- The role of Israel’s Supreme Court and judicial activism
- Tensions between Israel’s secular and Haredi communities
- The evolving relationship between Haredi society and the state
- What meaningful integration could look like
- The broader implications for Israel’s legal system and democracy
Pfeffer brings a rare combination of Torah scholarship and legal expertise, drawing from his experience as a community rabbi, law professor at Hebrew University and adviser to Haredi soldiers in the IDF.
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The Israel Law & Liberty Forum is proud to partner with JNS to offer a platform for conservative and classical liberal legal thought from within Israel. Any opinions stated are those of the speaker and not meant to represent the positions of the forum or JNS. The forum is an organization that fosters thoughtful conversation and debate on key issues in Israeli law and democracy. The forum takes no official position regarding any specific policy issue, nor does it advance specific policies.
