Monsey - Several hundred Jewish boys took to the
streets Wednesday to protest an Israeli military bill that would all but end
draft exemptions for Hasidic and ultra-Orthodox students.
The event, which involved students at the United Talmudical
Academy and their teachers, began with a rally on the school’s grounds off
South Main Street about 4:15 p.m.
The students, mostly ages 6 to 13, stood in orderly lines,
holding signs in Hebrew and English featuring such slogans as “The Israeli
Draft Law: An Attack on Our Freedom of Religion.” The boys, mostly from the
Satmar branch of Judaism, then left the school, marching along the side of the
road north to Singer Avenue, west to Madison Avenue and back around to the
campus.
Joseph Lieberman, a teacher at the academy, acknowledged
that Wednesday’s event was small compared to other protests that have taken
place recently, but said that word of such demonstrations has a way of
spreading throughout the community.
He said he disagreed with many of the policies of the
Israeli government and that his people serve in their own right through study
and prayer.
“In the places we live — America in particular — they
respect our religious laws. They understand that we are praying for the good of
the land ... and they are not forcing us to go into the army,” Lieberman said.
“But in the so-called Jewish state of Israel ... they now say that we are not
allowed to learn in the yeshiva ... we have to go to the army.”
Michael Koplen, a New Hempstead village trustee and
Republican candidate for Ramapo supervisor, served in an Israeli civilian
defense unit in the 1970s. He said he does not agree with those who believe
they should be exempt from service to the country.
“If someone is living in Israel, benefits from the security,
roads, housing and other programs and has the ability to sit and study the
Torah, then I believe those people should make some type of contribution to
Israeli society,” Koplen said.
BY JAMES O'ROURKE - Lohud
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