Police Chief Rabbi Sends Urgent Message to Yeshiva Students: 'Don't Be Afraid to Come to Us'

In the midst of escalating tensions surrounding the arrest of yeshiva students classified as draft evaders, the Chief Rabbi of Israeli Police has delivered a direct and reassuring message to the Haredi community: the police are not your enemy, and urgent steps are being taken to ensure no student fears seeking help.

Chief Superintendent Rabbi Rami Berakhyahu sat down for an exclusive interview with Kikar Hashabbat's Yossi Sargobsky to address what has become the most pressing concern in the yeshiva world - that young men might avoid reporting crimes or seeking assistance from police out of fear they will be arrested and handed over to military authorities.

Commissioner Orders Urgent Legal Review

Rabbi Berakhyahu revealed that Police Commissioner Danny Levi has personally intervened at the highest levels to address the crisis. "The Commissioner has instructed the head of the investigations division and the police legal advisor to examine the legal aspects of this situation," he stated. "The goal is clear: we must be able to provide police services without an 18-year-old Haredi student feeling threatened or fearing to approach a station for police assistance."

The Chief Police Rabbi emphasized that the matter is being treated with the utmost urgency. "I have no doubt that everyone understands this is not about enforcing draft evasion laws when someone comes seeking help," he clarified. "I believe a solution will be found in the coming days."

The Fear Gripping the Yeshiva World

The concern within the Haredi community has reached unprecedented levels. Yeshiva officials have begun issuing unusual warnings to students, with some mashgichim advising young men to avoid contact with police entirely, including officers operating in civilian clothing. The warnings have intensified particularly around traditional vacation periods when students travel home.

The crisis stems from a legal paradox: under current law, yeshiva students of draft age are technically classified as military evaders, creating a situation where seeking police protection could theoretically result in arrest and transfer to military police. This has created what Rabbi Berakhyahu acknowledged as "a complex situation because the police are a law enforcement body."

Direct Message: 'The Police Are Here For You'

In a direct appeal to yeshiva students, Rabbi Berakhyahu conveyed an unequivocal message: "The police are for them, we are here for them. Just because we've found ourselves in a complicated situation due to the police being a law enforcement agency doesn't mean that if a student has a real crisis, he cannot turn to us."

The Chief Police Rabbi noted that despite the media storm, operational cooperation continues with all segments of the Haredi community, including rabbinic leadership across all factions. "Despite the communications crisis, on the ground the partnership and trust continue constantly with all the streams, the rabbis, and community leaders," he asserted.

A Call for Unity and Optimism

Rabbi Berakhyahu concluded the interview with a broader message about Jewish unity during challenging times. "We are an overly compartmentalized society, but specifically from the place of Torah we can lead good things from a place of faith in people, in the Holy One Blessed Be He, and in the people of Israel," he stated. "Don't lose hope and optimism."

The interview comes as Police Commissioner Levi has issued directives clarifying that draft enforcement remains exclusively the responsibility of military authorities, not civilian police. Meanwhile, yeshiva officials continue warning students to exercise caution, reflecting the deep anxiety that persists despite official reassurances.

As the legal review proceeds, the Haredi community awaits concrete solutions that will allow young men to access police services without fear - a basic right that has become unexpectedly complicated in the current climate of draft enforcement tensions.