Yeshivah Students Shift From Deferments to Affidavits Under New Law

By Hamodia Staff

In a missive circulated on Sunday, the Vaad HaYeshivos advised yeshivah bachurim and avreichim in Eretz Yisrael to ready themselves for submitting declarations instead of affidavits as per the security authorities’ directive.

Following the expiration of the draft law, it is no longer possible to submit a deferral – a procedure that yeshivah students used to do every year. The procedure for submitting the deferrals was done by each yeshivah in a centralized manner, with the presence of all the students who would submit the deferrals at the Tel Hashomer army recruitment office.

After the expiration of the draft law, the yeshivos section at Tel Hashomer was closed and the process of submitting deferrals was stopped. Now, the Vaad HaYeshivos has advised that the procedure will resume, but no deferrals will be submitted; rather, affidavits.

The Vaad HaYeshivos emphasized, “Yeshivos failing to submit student lists won’t receive a centralized assembly date.”

Further deliberations next week may resolve issues for those who have lost their yeshivah student status. The Vaad HaYeshivos has worked toward a settlement, suggesting these men will have the right to appeal for reassessment, a previously unavailable option, affecting around 300 yeshivah students.

About six months ago, the government sanctioned a decision directing the IDF not to enforce the draft on yeshivah students, notwithstanding the law’s expiration.