Foreign Ministry claims plan to count Chabad emissaries time abroad as national service is illegal
The Shaked Committee agreed that a select number of Chabad volunteers would be seen as working on behalf of the state of Israel, and their activities would be funded through the Sherut Ezrahi program for non-military national service.
However, Foreign Ministry officials say that only Foreign Ministry staff have the legal right to work overseas as a representative of Israel. All others must apply for a tourist visa or work visa from the host country.
Ministry personnel also expressed concern that Chabad volunteers could end up in jail for violating local law. “We’re putting people in places that they shouldn’t be in under local law,” they warned.The law's provision would affect about 100 Chabad emissaries.
Labels: Ayelet Shaked, Chabad House, draft, Haredim, IDF
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:07 PM
4 Comments:
I wonder whether the Israeli govt would consider a Chabad upgrade/endorsement (aka "conversion") as legally fully "Jewish" for the slews of people out in the diaspora intermarried, converting in unfavored streams, or raising kids Jewish... are Israeli families being urged to welcome incoming mix-and-match Chabad-sorted people in marriage to their own kids? Chabad should take a bow for not giving up. They are a lovely group out to the ends of the diaspora...
From my experience (30+ years old), they would have to be considered shlihim of the WZO, rather than the State. It could still be considered service to the State, but they wouldn't be representing the State (important distinction). Morim shlihim, b'not sherut, shlihim of youth movements, etc. all served that way. But I wonder if Chabadniks would agree to represent and be considered working b'taam WZO? At one time, there is no way they would have; and I suspect that is still the case. And who did the Shaked committee clear all this with in Chabad, I wonder?
In an earlier post, I believe you mentioned that Yesh Atid MK Yoel Rezbozov fulfilled his national service by waving an Israeli flag in the town where Hitler was born? I'm pretty sure that wasn't in Israel?
Israel says it wants to be recognised as a Jewish state yet doesn't include people working for Judaism and Jews as part of their workforce. Contradiction? This seems to prove that it's not just getting people into the army that's the goal.
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