Tens of thousands of Jews squeezed into Zupnik Square in Jerusalem, and the surrounding streets, for a protest called by the Eidah Charedis against the Israeli government’s draft law.
Most Orthodox Jews refrain from enlisting in the IDF due to their opposition to the existence of the state and its wars.
Moreover, these Jews are part of a community that existed for over a century prior to the establishment of the State of Israel, coexisting peacefully with the local Arabs. They see the decision of the Zionists to establish a state as a tragic mistake, and do not wish to fight and die in the wars that resulted from that decision.
A few hours before the event, the Rosh Yeshiva of Brisk, the Gaon Rabbi Avrohom Yehoshua Soloveitchik instructed that all must participate in the Eidah’s demonstration.
The Slonimer Rebbe also told his Chassidim a short time before the event that they should be present.
The protest was led by the foremost halachic authority of our generation, the Gaon Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch, and the members of the Badatz of the Eidah Charedis, and with the participation of the greatest Chassidic Rebbes: the Toldos Ahron Rebbe, the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe, the Pinsk Karlin Rebbe, the Shevet Halevi Rebbe, the Mishkenos Haroim Rebbe, Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Meisels, Rosh Yeshiva of Satmar Bnei Brak, Rabbi Nosson Kofshitz, the head of the Nachlah Umenucha neighborhood of Beis Shemesh, Rabbi Yitzchok Moshe Erlanger, Rabbi Gamliel Rabinowitz, head of the kabbalistic yeshiva Shaar Hashomayim, Rabbi Nosson David Keviak, one of the leaders of Breslov, and many other rabbis and halachic authorities.
Leaders of the Sephardic community were also present: Rabbi Moshe Tzadka rosh yeshiva of Porat Yosef, and Rabbi Avraham Cohen, a leader of the Sephardic Eidah Chareidis.
The keynote address was delivered by Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch, followed by speeches by Rabbi Moshe Tzadka, the Toldos Ahron Rebbe, and a number of members of the Badatz.
In his speech, Rabbi Sternbuch stressed that according to Jewish law it is forbidden for any young man, even one who is not studying in a yeshiva, to go to the army. “There is no difference between a yeshiva student and someone who is not a yeshiva student,” he said. “Even if one was not privileged to study in a yeshiva, G-d loves him and it is forbidden to abandon him to the army, which is a place full of defilement and heresy.
“We demand from the government one thing: leave us alone! Allow us to live according to the Torah. That is more valuable to us than anything. And we hereby inform you that even if you place penalties upon us, we will not compromise on even one young man. Even if they want to put us in jail, we will not give in, because we are the servants of G-d.”
Some demonstrators carried signs reading: “We were here before you and we lived in peace with our Arab neighbors. We did not want a state because its existence violates the Jewish religion. You have no right to demand of us to share a burden that we were opposed to. You did want it? So eat it.”
Others signs read: “We Didn’t Create the Problem by Founding the State of Israel
Don’t Ask Us to Fix it by Joining the IDF.”