Protesting Exceptionalism

Israel has long had a problem with its ultra-Orthodox community refusing to be a real part of the entire nation of communities. The ultra-Orthodox contribute very little to the well-being and security of the state that protects them. Famously, they refuse to have anything to do with Israel's conscription to military service to ensure that young, fit and healthy Israelis are prepared to defend their country at a time of need. Men and women both must report for three years of military service once they reach the age of 18.

Christian youth watch an Israeli military exercise ahead of joining the Israeli army. Credit: Pierre Klochendler/IPS.

Only the ultra-Orthodox have been excused from duty, along with Israeli Arabs. Other minority groups like Kurds and Druze and Christian communities serve with distinction in the Israeli military as a commitment to their country's well-being. The government is taking steps to remedy this situation, and the response from Israel's ultra-Orthodox Jews has been to counter with a mass rally protesting conscription plans for their young men.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest in Jerusalem against plans to end exemptions from military service. Photograph: Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images

They insist that the new legislation represents a "war on religion" that "we will not join the military", because studying Torah is in and of itself a full-time occupation leaving no time for anything else for pious young men. The older men among them also feel that they are so busy studying they have no time to spare for working, as in earning a living for themselves and their broods. For the ultra-Orthodox do have broods, they bear more children than secular Jews.

It is one of the reasons, apart from keeping the faith alive that they have traditionally been excused from duty. Among the ultra-Orthodox lie the hope of expanding the Jewish population in Israel through natural means, apart from aliyah, the migration from the diaspora of Jews arriving to live in Israel, from other parts of the world. The ultra-Orthodox remain a thorn in the side of civil behaviour, insulting and assaulting those whom they deem are insufficiently pious.

The three major streams of the ultra-Orthodox; Lithuanian, Hasidic and Sephardi are agreed on this one thing; they will not accede to the impending legislation that is meant to alter their legal status. They see nothing amiss in the fact that they do not contribute in the most basic ways to their country's economy and security. Feeling quite entitled to receive massive amounts of social welfare to feed and house their large families.

Feeling that the country should be indebted to them for keeping religious Judaism alive through their zealous focus on study and interpretation of the law and in procreating. Yaakov Biton, a 28-year-old resident of the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak announced his presence along with his peers from his theological seminary "to show that we are not afraid of the criminal sanctions -- we are united."

Making up ten percent of Israel's eight million population, most of the ultra-Orthodox Haredi community refuse to work, claim their exceptionalism in their faith exempts them from any obligations beyond full-time study in religious institutions. Being a Jew of Orthodox persuasion does not stop other Israelis from serving their country and working to advance its interests.

A man of great religious devotion by the name of Benjamin Netanyahu, his brothers and his sons as well served in the IDF, and sought other means throughout their lives to advance the future of the country and secure the safety of its citizens.