Bnei Brak Initiative Distributes 147,000 Shekels to Draft Evaders
A Bnei Brak initiative distributed 147,000 shekels to ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students who served military prison terms for draft evasion, granting 1,000 shekels per day amid ongoing conscription disputes.
A community initiative in Bnei Brak has distributed a total of 147,000 shekels to ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students who served sentences in military prisons for failing to report for IDF service. The payouts were awarded under the "Prison 1,000" project, which provides participants with 1,000 shekels for every day spent behind bars for draft-related offenses.
During a festive ceremony held on Saturday night in Bnei Brak, mainstream rabbis and community members gathered to honor what organizers termed "Torah prisoners." One participant received a check for 16,000 shekels after completing a 16-day term in a military prison. Invitations distributed prior to the event praised the recipients for refusing mandatory conscription amid ongoing political and legal gridlock.
Broader Conscription Crisis and Prior Events
This distribution follows a similar event in late September, when hundreds of people participated in a procession in Jerusalem honoring released draft evaders, where monetary grants were calculated using the same 1,000-shekel daily rate. These events unfold against a backdrop of acute political tension surrounding ultra-Orthodox military service.
While political factions, including Eisenkot's faction, seek legislative frameworks to regularize yeshiva students' status and prevent widespread arrests, military authorities continue enforcing draft obligations. The financial support reflects growing frustration within the ultra-Orthodox community as political parties fail to reach a definitive legislative compromise.
