Israel’s Ultra-Orthodox Jews Are at a Crossroads as Military-Draft Orders Arrive

Article here. Excerpt:

'Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Jews, or Haredim as they prefer to be called, are at a critical juncture. So is the Israeli military, which, after a June Supreme Court ruling, is now aiming to draft some 3,000 Haredi men who had previously been exempted if they studied Jewish holy texts in religious seminaries full-time.

Despite the interest shown by young men like Wais, most Haredi leaders fear the military is a melting pot that will pull ultra-Orthodox men into mainstream Israeli culture. The military might soon have to decide how to handle large-scale draft dodging at a time when its struggle for additional manpower has been exacerbated by the nearly yearlong war in Gaza.'