Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men pray during a rally attended by hundreds of thousands against plans to force them to serve in the Israeli military, blocking roads and paralyzing the city of Jerusalem, March 2, 2014.Sebastian Scheiner—AP
Hundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews protested in Jerusalem Sunday against a law that would require them to serve in the military and end a generations-long tradition of military exemption for the most religious Israelis.
The protests choked streets in Jerusalem with teeming masses of Haredim, a Hebrew term that means ‘those who tremble before God,’ wearing black hats and coats, the traditional Haredi garb, CBS reports.
The new law would suspend military exemptions for Orthodox Jewish seminary students, who are currently excused from serving in the Israeli army. The law, which has been in the works for months and would institute universal conscription at 18, would be implemented in four years time and could be overturned in the interim.
The debate on ultra-Orthodox service in the army is a heated one. Haredi claim it violates their religious right to study the holy scriptures, a foundation of Jewish life. But some Israelis say the Haredi, a rapidly growing demographic that represents 10% of the country’s population, need to share the burden of military service.
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men pray during a rally attended by hundreds of thousands against plans to force them to serve in the Israeli military, blocking roads and paralyzing the city of Jerusalem, March 2, 2014.Sebastian Scheiner—APUltra-Orthodox Jewish men dance before the start of a mass prayer in Jerusalem, March 2, 2014. Darren Whiteside—ReutersHundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews rally in a massive show of force against plans to force them to serve in the Israeli military, blocking roads and paralyzing the city of Jerusalem, March 2, 2014. Oded Balilty—APAn ultra-Orthodox woman prays during a mass protest in Jerusalem, March 2, 2014. Dusan Vranic—APHundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews rally in a massive show of force against plans to force them to serve in the Israeli military, blocking roads and paralyzing the city of Jerusalem, March 2, 2014. Ariel Schalit—APUltra-Orthodox Jewish men participate in a rally in Jerusalem, March 2, 2014. Sebastian Scheiner—APAn ultra-Orthodox Jewish man watches from a balcony as hundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews rally in a massive show of force against plans to force them to serve in the Israeli military, blocking roads and paralyzing the city of Jerusalem, March 2, 2014. Oded Balilty—APAn ultra-Orthodox Jewish man attends a rally in Jerusalem, March 2, 2014.Ariel Schalit—APHundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews rally in a massive show of force against plans to force them to serve in the Israeli military, blocking roads and paralyzing the city of Jerusalem, March 2, 2014. Oded Balilty—APUltra-Orthodox Jewish men dance at a rally in a massive show of force against plans to force them to serve in the Israeli military, blocking roads and paralyzing the city of Jerusalem, March 2, 2014.Sebastian Scheiner—AP
