A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

A nonprofit, independent news source to inform, inspire, educate and connect the St. Louis Jewish community.

St. Louis Jewish Light

A haredi Orthodox man watching Israeli soldiers at an army ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Feb. 22, 2012.

For new Israeli coalition, haredi army exemptions issue is front and center

By Uriel Heilman, JTAPublished May 9, 2012

Israel’s new unity government may not alter Jerusalem’s strategy for curbing Iran’s nuclear weapons program or do much to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. But it could dramatically change something at home about which a huge number...

Editorial: A Tal Order

Published February 29, 2012

The Tal Law is dead. This is not only a good thing, but indeed essential to the future viability of an indivisible Israel. In a 6-3 decision last week, the Israeli Supreme Court struck down the 2002 law that allowed full-time yeshiva students to defer...

Yishai: Tal Law will have to be extended

Published February 23, 2012

JERUSALEM -- The Israeli government will have to extend the Tal Law, which allows yeshiva students to delay their military service, until new legislation can be drafted, the country's Interior Minister said. Israel's Interior Minister Eli Yishai said...

Knesset rejects bills requiring all Israelis to serve

JTAPublished February 22, 2012

JERUSALEM -- The Knesset rejected two bills that would have required all Israeli citizens, including the haredi Orthodox, to serve in the military or national service. Both the National Service bill and the Defense Service bill, proposed by the opposition...

Bibi bypassing Cabinet on extending yeshiva students’ military service law

JTAPublished January 26, 2012

JERUSALEM—Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will bring a vote on extending a law that allows yeshiva students to delay their military service directly to the Knesset floor, bypassing his Cabinet. Netanyahu's office said Thursday that the Cabinet will...

Bibi tables talk on extending law delaying military service

JTAPublished January 18, 2012

JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delayed discussion of extending a law for five more years that allows yeshiva students to delay their military service. Netanyahu said in a statement issued from his office Wednesday that he...

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