Rabbi explains why Haredim skip military service. Kind of.

[SarahD]

His argument doesn't make sense to me, but then I'm brutally unsympathetic toward religious considerations.
https://www.newsweek.com/theres-good-reason-israels-ultra-orthodox-dont-serve-military-opinion-1917225

[RockRaven]

1. Only five words needed: "Duties for thee, not me"

These dickheads have declared that they know better than other people what their own contributions ought to be -- but don't concede other people might have the same position. They get to decide for themselves what to throw into the pot, whereas other people have to comply with yet other people's determination of the same. Some of the dumbest utter hypocrisy and bullshit one will ever see people speak aloud without shame or selfawareness.

[Silent3]

2. Indeed

Haredim believe—deeply, strongly and sincerely—that religious devotion in the form of Torah-study, no less than the actions of foot soldiers or intelligence officers, is important for Israel's security. Indeed, a vital, essential part of it.

A secular-minded person will surely scoff at that idea but it is, as it always has been, a most basic Haredi belief.

Yes, here I am, scoffing away. Eye rolling too.

[Igel]

3. Boiled down ...

1. Students are exempt from the draft. You can study chemistry or philosophy or Torah.

2. The diaspora was done by the Romans but ultimately, like the captivity 750 years or so earlier, because of Israel's disobedience and infidelity. Obedience to G-d and knowing the laws and making sure that there's a sufficient number of the faithful to avoid another diaspora is largely up to the Haredim. (For the same sort of reasoning the Neturei Karta see no reason for Israel ... G-d dispered, G-d will collect. I'm channeling Orthodoxy with "G-d".)

Notice we have conscientious objectors. My former church's "parent church" (pre-schism) had members that went to jail because they wouldn't fight in WWII or Korea--even as medics.