there was a lot of talk when the draft law was being passed that it would cause a reverse reaction - there would be less Haredim joining the draft because the new law would cause the community to circle the wagons and withdraw from the processes that were already in motion.
Shortly after there was even talk about how the draft law had killed the haredi draft and almost none had joined the draft since the new law was raised. They spoke about how changes must be done through dialogue, forcing it on the haredi community would only cause a reverse reaction, and the proof was in the pudding.
Personally, I thought it was too short term to know anything, and the test would be after a couple of years, after things settle down. During the height of the battle, the community would circle its wagons. It is when things quiet down a bit that we will know the real effect.
That time might be now, though it is sooner than I would have expected.
According to Haaretz, the Knesset has reported that there has been a 39% increase in young Haredi men joining the draft over the past year, when compared to the same period last year. 1972 haredim have joined the draft, with 863 of them going to front line units. The target number for this year was set at 2000 young Haredi men, and 1972 is awfully close to that target.
Last year 1416 joined the army, and the year before that saw 1327 joining the army.
And look, the world has not come to end, and torah learning has not come to an end.
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