Thousands of Chareidim poured into the streets of Yerushalayim on Tuesday for a massive show of support for yeshiva bochurim who were imprisoned by the IDF after refusing to enlist, with the gathering centered around those described by organizers as “Asirei Olam HaTorah.”
The huge procession began in Geulah and continued through the heart of Chareidi Yerushalayim, eventually reaching Kikar Shabbos, as large crowds welcomed dozens of recently released bochurim.
Many of those recently imprisoned were not arrested during raids on yeshivos or homes, but were detained at Ben Gurion Airport or border crossings. A significant number were Breslover Chassidim who were arrested while traveling to or returning from Uman for Rosh Hashanah.
The bochurim were brought to Tuesday’s event by bus and greeted with singing and dancing. Organizers had reportedly invited approximately 100 former prisoners, with roughly 50 attending.
Signs carried during the procession reflected the uncompromising position of the groups organizing the event against Chareidi enlistment in the IDF.
“בכל נפשך — נמות ולא נתגייס,” read one sign — “With all your soul — we will die rather than enlist.”
Another referred to the imprisoned bochurim as “hostages” and called for their release from Military Prison 10, while describing the IDF as “צבא האויב” — the “enemy army.”
The latter language drew significant controversy, including within the broader Chareidi public, and was quickly seized upon by politicians campaigning ahead of next month’s election.
At the conclusion of the procession, financial grants were distributed to the former prisoners. Reports placed the payments at several hundred shekels to approximately NIS 1,000 each, with organizers saying the funds had been donated from abroad.
Children attending the event also received packages bearing the words: “The welcoming ceremony for the prisoners of Torah who merited sitting in prison for the ‘crime’ of preserving Yiddishkeit.”
The demonstration comes amid an increasingly bitter confrontation over attempts to draft yeshiva bochurim following the expiration of the previous legal framework governing their status.
Tuesday’s procession followed another enormous reception in Bnei Brak earlier this week, where recently released yeshiva bochurim were greeted with music and dancing.
The Yerushalayim event immediately became campaign material for opposition politicians, including Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Liberman, Yair Golan and Ofer Winter, all of whom issued statements attacking the march and calling for tougher measures against those who do not enlist.
📷 YWN Israel reporter Reuven Biala
(YWN Israel Desk — Jerusalem)
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