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Zakein HaPoskim, Rav Avigdor Nebenzahl: “Even a Bochur Who Isn’t Learning Must Not Enlist”

• 2 min read
Zakein HaPoskim, Rav Avigdor Nebenzahl: “Even a Bochur Who Isn’t Learning Must Not Enlist”
HaGaon HaRav Avigdor Nebenzahl shlit"a. Photo: A. Glick

In a move that has sent shockwaves across the Torah world, Zakein HaPoskim, HaGaon HaRav Avigdor Nebenzahl, shlit”a—Maran Rosh Yeshivas Netiv Aryeh and Rav of the Old City of Yerushalayim—has issued an unprecedented public psak halacha declaring that even Chareidi bochurim who are not currently learning must not enlist in the IDF under any framework.

Rav Nebenzahl, revered across the spectrum of Klal Yisrael for his unmatched humility, brilliance, and decades of serving as posek and mashpia in the Old City’s yeshivos and kollelim, is known for staying far away from public declarations. Yet in light of recent arrests of yeshiva bochurim, the Rav broke his silence with words that cannot be ignored.

“I wish to be mechazeik the precious Bnei Torah who were thrown into prison because they fulfilled their true obligation to learn Torah and did not enlist in the army,” he wrote.

Then, with uncharacteristic sharpness, the Rav issued his ruling:

“Even a Chareidi bochur who, unfortunately, is not learning Torah, must not be tempted to enlist in the army—not even in frameworks established for Chareidim—as the Gedolei Yisrael have already instructed.”

According to B’Chadrei Chareidim, this psak is without precedent. For decades, when pressed on the issue, Rav Nebenzahl would avoid direct answers, famously saying: “A Chareidi bochur must sit and learn! How can it be that a Chareidi bochur isn’t learning?!” On another occasion he added: “If a bochur seeks Daas Torah, we must instruct him to learn. And if he does not listen to Daas Torah, what use is there in forbidding him from the army?”

Now, however, with arrests and persecution mounting, Rav Nebenzahl has made his position clear: no enlistment, under any circumstances.

The words of the Zakein HaPoskim carry immense weight. For a Rav who has long avoided involvement in public disputes, this dramatic statement underscores just how dangerous and destructive the current campaign of conscription truly is.