In a fiery new recording, Rav Moshe Maya, the senior member of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas, sharply denounced the proposed draft law being promoted by Shas chairman Aryeh Deri and his associate, former minister Ariel Attias. Rav Maya stated emphatically that he cannot and will not support any legislation that includes draft quotas, conscription targets, or punitive measures against bnei yeshivah. “Nothing—nothing—will change my mind,” he declared.
This stance comes just as Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office scrambles to push forward a reworked version of the law, hoping to avert political fallout. But with Rav Maya and other senior Sephardic gedolim standing firm, any form of compromise appears increasingly unlikely.
In the dramatic recording, taken during a conversation with a group of concerned avreichim, one participant asked whether it’s halachically permissible to support a law that weakens the Torah world, even marginally.
Rav Maya interrupted firmly: “I’m not afraid of anyone. Why? Because Hakadosh Boruch Hu runs the world. No one has the right to be matir something that’s against the Torah! Since the founding of the state, the law has been ‘mandatory draft’—and it never made any distinction for bnei yeshivah.”
He continued: “The ‘Tal Law’ was enacted to correct that. But once the Supreme Court canceled it, we were left with the original law. If no new law is passed, the default law kicks in—one that makes no exception for yeshivah bochurim whatsoever.”
Rav Maya then delivered a forceful warning: “If we stay in the coalition while that law remains in effect, then we are shutfim to it. And being a partner to such a law is equivalent to hanging a sign that screams: ‘Ein lanu chelek b’Elokei Yisroel!’ The Rambam says this clearly at the end of Zeraim. It is absolutely assur to draft yeshivah bochurim.”
He added passionately, “You can’t force a Jew to be mechalel Shabbos, you can’t force a Christian to become a Muslim, and you can’t force a ben Torah to go to the army. If halachah forbids it, what more is there to say?”
Regarding those not fully engaged in learning, Rav Maya was unequivocal: “I’m not your army’s police force! I’m not giving you quotas! The Rambam writes clearly: if one can’t keep Torah in the open, let him go to the caves, to the deserts. Their entire goal is to turn everyone into chilonim.”
Commenting on the so-called “chareidi units,” Rav Maya scoffed: “They promised us all kinds of things. But as soon as basic training ended, they sent the bochurim elsewhere. Not one promise was fulfilled.”
Reflecting on the past, Rav Maya said, “I go back to Ben Gurion’s times. He said the army is a ‘melting pot.’ You go in as one thing and come out something else. That hasn’t changed one bit.”
As political pressure mounts to pass any form of draft law, Rav Maya made it clear: “If they arrest even one ben yeshivah—not someone in the airport, but a bochur sitting in yeshivah—I will, bli neder, personally go to every gadol b’Yisroel to organize a protest of a million people. A million Yidden will take to the streets. Can you force a Christian to become a Muslim? So how can you force us to be mechalel the Torah?!”
When asked whether there are kavim adumim—red lines—he replied without hesitation: “Of course there are! The Rambam says it’s a cheit chamur to be mevazeh talmidei chachamim. One who does so has no share in Olam Haba. The current draft proposal is an unprecedented bizayon to lomdei Torah! Taking away driver’s licenses? Canceling property tax discounts? This is pure achzariyus. Can we remain in a government like that?”
When someone suggested removing some sanctions to make the bill more palatable, Rav Maya rejected it outright: “No! No sanctions whatsoever. The law must say clearly: a ben Torah is patur! No quotas. No conditions.”
Pressed again, he answered with finality: “That’s my red line.”
One avreich remarked, “There’s a feeling of panic, pressure in the street, in the media, in the halls of power. But no one has spoken publicly and clearly about the kavim adumim except the Rav. Can we publish your words?”
Rav Maya responded, “Absolutely. Say it however you want.”
He added: “They asked me, ‘What if this leads to elections?’ I said: then there will be elections. A transition government has only thirty percent of the authority. No new government will form. Eventually, they’ll come crawling back. And then we’ll tell them: If you want us, let us keep the Torah! The halachah is: Bnei Torah don’t go to the army.”
When asked if the letter he had signed together with Rav Moshe Tzedakah outlining this view could now be publicized, Rav Maya said, “Of course. I signed it. I stand by it. Go ahead and publish it.”
The letter reads: “As the kavod haTorah is being trampled, and the government is determined to oppose any deferment law unless it includes quotas and targets, and seeks to target even those not learning to make it seem as if compromise is possible—this is a terrible chilul Hashem. Therefore, we must declare firmly: Giyus is assur for every shomer Torah u’mitzvos, including so-called ‘chareidi tracks,’ which inevitably lead to spiritual destruction.”
Rav Maya confirmed: “These are the exact words I’ve always shouted. I was happy to see that someone wrote them, because they are my own.”
A family member pointed out, “But it says clearly: no law with quotas can be supported.”
Rav Maya asked, “Where does it say that?”
They read aloud: “Quotas or targets.” That’s what they’re trying to pass—a bill with recruitment goals. The letter says that alone is enough to oppose it.
Rav Maya replied: “I’m asking the kavod haTorah to stand with us publicly and declare: according to daas Torah, it is completely assur to support any law that includes draft quotas.”
He concluded with force: “I’m befarhesyah against quotas! I’ve been yelling it for years! ‘Yeilech l’chuchim u’lamidbaros v’al yisgayeis!’”
Rav Maya’s remarks place Aryeh Deri in a deep political bind. While Deri and Attias have reportedly been engaging in quiet negotiations with MK Yuli Edelstein, considering compromises that include draft targets for bnei yeshivah, Rav Maya’s words have now created an unbridgeable ideological rift.
Earlier, Matzav.com reported that despite Shas’s announcement last week, no meeting of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah has yet been scheduled just a day before a pivotal vote in the Knesset.
Later in the day, Rav Maya released a handwritten letter clarifying that while he had previously refrained from public comment due to the sensitivity of the matter, now that legislation is imminent, a Moetzet decision must be made.
Rav Shlomo Machpoud added his signature to the letter, writing: “V’zos haTorah lo tehei muchlefes.”
This came following the release of a public statement signed by Rav Moshe Maya, Rav Moshe Tzadkah, and Rav Shlomo Machpoud reiterating their total opposition to any draft legislation involving quotas or conscription, even for bochurim who are not currently learning.
{Matzav.com Israel}