The Vaad HaYeshivot's Rules for Haredi Students Ahead of Purim and Passover
With no Draft Law in place, students face travel bans and are warned that any outside work or gaps in study could lead to immediate military induction as the coalition struggles to find a legislative solution.
The "Vaad HaYeshivot" (Committee of Yeshivas) has issued a series of urgent directives to Yeshiva heads and students ahead of the Purim and Passover holidays. The letter warns of a precarious legal landscape due to the continued absence of a formal Draft Law, leaving thousands of Torah students without a regulated military deferment status.
The guidelines emphasize that the current "legal vacuum" is dangerous and requires students to be more meticulous than ever in maintaining their status to avoid future legal complications.
The most immediate impact for students concerns international travel. The committee clarified that unless a new law is passed before the "Bein HaZmanim" (intersession) break, most students aged 17 to 28.5 will be unable to leave Israel for the upcoming Passover holiday.
In addition, students wishing to travel must contact the Vaad HaYeshivot exactly two weeks prior to their flight to check their specific status, as border control databases are being updated frequently.
The committee warned students against complacency. Even though the previous law has expired, their future eligibility for deferment depends on their current conduct.
Students must strictly adhere to the study schedules. Legal opinions suggest that any break in the continuity of Torah study could permanently disqualify a student from future "Torato Umanuto" (Torah is his craft) status.
The letter explicitly warns against taking on "additional occupations" or jobs. Any suspicion of outside work could provide authorities with a "legal opening" to revoke their status.
Students are urged to maintain their behavior as "Yeshiva students" at all times to avoid negative scrutiny.
The directives come amid growing anxiety within Haredi political factions. Following a recent legislative defeat for Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding a VAT decree, Haredi officials expressed concern that the Prime Minister has "lost control" of the Likud party.
"Netanyahu claims there will be a majority for the Draft Law, but we have yet to see proof," a senior United Torah Judaism official stated. "In an election and primary year, Likud MKs are acting independently, making complex legislation like the Draft Law an extremely dangerous event."