A week before his passing: Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox enlisted in the track of Rabbi Yaakov Farber
It has come to the attention of "Hayom" that on the last recruitment day, which took place about a week and a half ago, 230 ultra-Orthodox individuals were recruited into designated IDF tracks. Rabbi Yaakov Farber, one of the founders of the "Maalot Tzur" track, worked for years to promote the integration of the ultra-Orthodox into the IDF.
The public agenda surrounding the conscription of ultra-Orthodox is usually measured by quantitative targets, but on the ground, designated tracks are becoming more precise with every training cycle, every group that integrates, and the recruitment of hundreds of young people paving the way.
It has come to the attention of "Hayom" that on the last recruitment day, which took place about a week and a half ago, 230 ultra-Orthodox individuals were recruited into designated tracks for the ultra-Orthodox public in the IDF.
The recruitment took place against the backdrop of growing tension within the ultra-Orthodox society and the struggle over the issue of equality in the burden. It included recruits for the "Maalot Tzur" and "Kodkod" tracks, two of the most sought-after paths among members of the ultra-Orthodox public who seek to enlist while fully maintaining their lifestyle.
During the recruitment day, demonstrations were held outside the offices, where protesters tried to convince candidates not to enlist. Despite the protests and pressures, the number of recruits remained high, totaling 230.
The social price paid by these trailblazers received a painful reminder this week with the passing at the age of only 32 of Rabbi Yaakov Farber, one of the founders of the "Maalot Tzur" track, who worked for years to promote the integration of the ultra-Orthodox into the IDF.
After his passing, we published in "Hayom" documentation of food distribution in synagogues, purchased and dedicated by ultra-Orthodox elements to celebrate his death—evidence of the intensity of the flames surrounding recruitment efforts. This is the exact dynamic the Supreme Court will encounter today when it discusses the petitions filed against the temporary order to freeze the arrests of draft dodgers.
Earlier this week, the legal advisor to the Knesset, Sagit Afik, criticized the temporary order—a position that is not surprising given her opposition to the proposal during the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee discussions. In those discussions, her representative, Adv. Miri Frankel, argued that the temporary order is not expected to lead to an increase in the scope of ultra-Orthodox recruitment to the IDF.
