The Knesset on Tuesday passed the Basic Law: Torah Study, enshrining Torah study as a foundational value of the Jewish state. According to a report, Likud lawmakers demanded the final version not refer to Torah study as a 'significant service' to the state, though opposition lawmakers argued the law will still be used to justify military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students.
The Knesset early Tuesday morning passed the Basic Law: Torah Study in its final readings, with the final text amended to remove any reference to Torah study as a "significant service" to the state, following demands from Likud lawmakers. The vote, which concluded an overnight session, enshrines Torah study as a foundational value of the Jewish state, effectively elevating it to quasi-constitutional status.
The Zioneer first reported the passage at 09:34 Jerusalem, citing Channel 14. Later reports the same morning noted criticism from Haredi commentator Motele Blau, who called the legislation "funny" in a Jewish state, and a statement from MK Aryeh Deri (Shas), who said the law sends a message to the dismissed Attorney General: "Enough persecution, enough hatred towards Torah learners." The law's advancement was tracked over several weeks: a preliminary vote on June 10, committee approvals on June 16 and July 9, and a final plenum vote on July 13, as The Zioneer reported.
The law is part of a broader coalition push to exempt yeshiva students from military service, a contentious issue amid ongoing security threats. As The Zioneer reported on July 1, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz voted for the bill, sparking chaos in the plenum. The legislation has drawn sharp criticism from secular and reservist groups, who argue it undermines equal burden-sharing.
Opposition lawmakers maintain that the law will still be used to justify military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students, despite the removal of the "significant service" clause. The full implications of the quasi-constitutional status for Torah study remain to be seen, particularly regarding potential legal challenges or future legislative amendments.
4 developments
- DevelopingKnesset Committee approves Basic Law: Torah Study for final readings; plenum vote next week
- StrongKnesset Committee approves Basic Law: Torah Study; coalition races ahead of election recess
- DevelopingKnesset advances Basic Law equating Torah study with IDF service
- StrongMinisterial committee approves Basic Law: Torah Study; Haredi parties call it merely declarative without equal-status clause
Source and signal
- Internal intake