Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews rallied in Downtown Manhattan on Sunday afternoon to protest proposed new legislation in Israel that would allow them to be drafted into the army there.
The demonstrators held a mass prayer service over several blocks near Wall Street starting around 2 p.m. in response to the proposal to draft the strict religious citizens into the army. The bill could go into effect in 2017.
“Until now, they gave us the respect since we’re religious and we study, that we should stay in the yeshivas,” said Rabbi Jacob Kellner, 57, who drove three hours from upstate Monroe for the event. “Now. they’re changing that. This is very strongly a lack of respect.”
Kellner, who travels frequently to Israel, has 13 children, seven of whom could be affected if the law passes.
“It’s devastating, there’s no compromise,” he said. “I tell my kids, ‘If you get drafted, I would rather you go to jail, than to serve.’ It’s so dangerous the situation there.”
Previously, ultra-Orthodox Jews were exempt from having to serve in the military if they were enrolled in a Yeshiva, or religious study.
“It’s going to be opposed by everyone,” said Yitz Farkas, 27. “You can’t force someone to do something that everyone opposes. “
Last Sunday, hundreds of thousands of Ultra-Orthodox Jews gathered in Jerusalem to protest the proposal.