Army Service & National Defense

Here we examine the Charedi position on military service, national security, and the nature of true protection for the Jewish People. The section addresses the value of spiritual vs. physical defense and why Torah learning is not an exemption but a different kind of service.

Companion Stories: The Bochur Who Escaped the Czar's Draft

In the late 1800s, during the reign of Czar Alexander III, a young yeshiva bochur named Mordechai Dov learned in a small Lithuanian shtetl. He was a metzuyan—a top talmid, diligent and pure. But his father, a poor tailor, couldn’t afford the hefty bribes required to keep his son off the draft lists.

Is there a halachic precedent for avoiding military service in Jewish history?

Yes, there is clear halachic precedent throughout Jewish history for avoiding military service when such service presents a threat to one's spiritual life or Torah observance.

Can the State of Israel Really Force Charedim to Serve in the Army?

The State can jail tens of thousands. It can cut funding. It can try to isolate and punish. But it cannot—and will not—win a war against Torah.

What is the Charedi View on Protecting Their Cities — Including Carrying Guns or Doing Guard Duty Outside the Army?

When it comes to pikuach nefesh, the Charedi world — like all Torah Jews — takes it with the utmost seriousness. Chazal teach: “חמירא סכנתא מאיסורא” — danger is even more severe than prohibition. If there is a real threat to Jewish life, not only is it permitted to protect oneself — it is a mitzvah.

What Would Happen if No One Fought in the Wars?

We must distinguish between the ideal Torah perspective and the present-day reality that Hashem has brought about.

So Even If It’s Not a Milchemes Mitzvah, Is There a Halachic Obligation to Fight in the Wars?

Even if a war doesn’t meet the Torah’s criteria of a “milchemes mitzvah” — do we still have a halachic obligation to fight?

Are the Wars the State of Israel Fights Today Halachically Considered a Milchemes Mitzvah?

The question is not, “Should Jews defend themselves?” — of course we should. The Torah mandates that we preserve life (pikuach nefesh). The real question is: Does the modern State of Israel’s military activity meet the halachic criteria of a milchemes mitzvah — a Torah-commanded war?

What Is the Definition of a Milchemes Mitzvah and a Milchemes Reshus?

In the Torah, war is not a secular or nationalistic decision — it is a halachic matter, with clear categories and conditions defined by Chazal and the Rishonim.

Why Do Charedim Reject Sherut Leumi (Civil Service) Alternatives Too?

At first glance, national service alternatives — such as sherut leumi (civil service) — might seem like a solution for Charedim who do not serve in the army.

How Do Charedim Feel About Charedi Soldiers Who Do Join the IDF?

The Charedi world draws a clear distinction between the institution of the IDF, which it sees as incompatible with Torah life, and the individual Jews — even Charedim — who serve in it.