Rabbi David Stav denounces haredi demands for blanket IDF draft exemptions, calling them political distortions of Torah values and urging Religious Zionists to stand firm.
Rabbi David Stav, Chair of the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization, delivered a scathing response to MK Moshe Gafni’s (United Torah Judaism) recent attacks on the Religious Zionist community amid the national debate over the IDF Enlistment Law.
Speaking to Mashav Channel, Rabbi Stav condemned what he called the manipulation of Jewish law for political gain.
“We’re witnessing political powerbrokers inventing halachot that simply do not exist,” Stav said. “There is no Torah-based exemption for yeshiva students when it comes to defending the Jewish homeland. Moreover, there is certainly no exemption from the commandment, ‘Do not stand idly by while your fellow bleeds.’ When Jews are under threat, standing aside is not an option.”
Stav went further, criticizing the haredi rabbinic leadership for seeking sweeping draft exemptions based on appearance rather than values:
“Just because someone wears a particular kippah or jacket, that doesn’t entitle them to ignore the mitzvah of Milchemet Mitzva—the Torah’s obligation to defend the nation in times of war,” he stated.
The rabbi also issued a clear call to Religious Zionist Jews not to back down in the face of escalating verbal attacks from haredi leaders.
“Do not be ashamed of who you are,” he urged. “Ignore the insults of those driven not by Torah and yirat shamayim [fear of God], but by a thirst for power and control. Our path remains rooted in the tradition of our forefathers—love for every Jew, commitment to Torah, and unwavering dedication to the Land of Israel.”
Rabbi Stav’s comments underscore the growing ideological rift within religious circles in Israel, especially over the moral and halachic responsibilities of defending the nation and sharing the burden of military service.
