First draft-dodging ultra-Orthodox yeshiva student arrested at airport on his way to Uman pilgrimage

After attempts to find a solution for travelers heading to Uman failed, a 23-year-old ultra-Orthodox yeshiva student from the “Chut Shel Chesed” yeshiva was arrested Wednesday for draft dodging at Ben Gurion International Airport while on his way to Uman. He was transferred to a military prison.

The yeshiva student attempted to leave the country using an American passport, but to no avail—he was arrested. In the coming weeks, thousands of Hasidim are expected to pass through the airport, including around 400 draft dodgers. This comes after moderate and mainstream Breslov rabbis recommended that yeshiva students refrain from flying this year if they have unresolved IDF draft issues.

About two weeks ago, it was reported that the government was working on a plan to prevent the arrest of draft-dodging yeshiva students who wish to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah, the annual pilgrimage to visit the grave of 18th-century Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, due to the absence of an IDF enlistment law that could “protect” them from such action.

Despite these efforts, Kan News reported that legal and law enforcement officials clarified that there is no legal framework that can prevent the arrest of draft dodgers at Ben Gurion International Airport. These officials stated that the matter was never formally brought to the relevant professional bodies – such as the Attorney General's office, which would need to approve such a plan – nor to police authorities.

Following this, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara announced that “enforcement must be carried out against those obligated to enlist who seek to travel to Uman.”

Her statement added that no request had been presented to the legal advisory staff “to examine from a legal standpoint any plan regarding the departure abroad” of draft-dodging yeshiva students.