Jerusalem Post/Israel News“The young men who walked through those gates this morning show you can be fully committed to Torah study and still defend this country on the front line," said Lt.-Col. (res) Yossi Levi.Follow us on GoogleA haredi (ultra-Orthodox) man at the Tel Hashomer IDF base, August 30, 2026.(photo credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI)ByTZVI JASPERAUGUST 30, 2026 10:27Updated: AUGUST 30, 2026 10:46Hundreds of haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men arrived at the Tel Hashomer military base on Sunday to be drafted into the IDF, with many of them heading into combat units, as protesters gathered outside.“This is a real jump,” said Lt.-Col. (res) Yossi Levi, CEO of the Shomer Yisrael Organization, which works to bring haredi men into the IDF. “The young men who walked through those gates this morning show you can be fully committed to Torah study and still defend this country on the front line. Our job is to build the support that makes both possible.”Among the possible units the haredim may join are the Haredi Paratroopers Company, the Hashmonaim Brigade, the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, Ma'alot Tzur, and the Yoav Project.At the recruitment center, Israel Police arranged security forces to prevent anti-draft protesters from disrupting the proceedings.People at the IDF recruitment center at Tel Hashomer in central Israel during a recruitment day for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, August 30, 2026. (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90)Protest erupts after police arrest draft dodgerOn Friday, dozens of haredi protesters attempted to block Route 443 in order to prevent the detention of a draft dodger, Israel Police announced.According to the police, a 20-year-old had been caught driving a stolen car, after which it was determined that he was also a draft evader.Shortly after his arrest, the police stated haredi demonstrators arrived at the scene in order to attempt to block the road.Follow us on Google