Israel's Torah Study law risks turning holiness into a bargaining chip

The Israeli Knesset's preliminary passage of the Basic Law: Torah Study is being decried as a political maneuver that exploits religious significance for power and draft evasion. The bill, which passed its first reading with a 56-43 vote, comes at a time when soldiers and reservists are bearing a heavy burden in a protracted war.

“

A government that truly cared about Torah would not use it to divide soldiers from students, mourners from politicians, and Jews from one another.

Critics, including some Likud and New Hope lawmakers who voted against it, argue the law is not about Torah but about power and avoidance. They contend that using Torah study as a constitutional shield for draft evasion is a desecration, especially when the nation is at war and facing manpower shortages. The timing of the vote, amidst ongoing conflict and calls for equitable service, sharpens the criticism.

“

He could not look bereaved families in the eyes and vote for a law implying that Torah and military service need not meet.

While an initial version reportedly sought to equate Torah learners with IDF soldiers, this was softened after criticism. However, the remaining text still declares Torah study a fundamental value and a basic right, viewing dedicated learners as making a significant contribution. This framing is seen by opponents as an insult, particularly to bereaved families and those serving on the front lines. The law is perceived as divisive, pitting soldiers against students and different segments of Israeli society against each other, all under the guise of religious heritage.

“

It is a last-minute effort to turn a coalition crisis into a constitutional shield for draft evasion, at the very moment when soldiers and reservists are carrying an unbearable national burden.