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Op-Ed: New Troubling Trend of Bochurim Joining the Army

by Rabbi Y. L

In recent years since the 7th, a trend has begun to surface within parts of the frum community, including among Anash. An increasing number of bochurim choose to enlist in the IDF rather than continue their learning in yeshiva. While each individual case may be personal, the broader phenomenon raises serious questions about our priorities and our responsibility to the next generation and our kids.

For generations, the strength and continuity of Yiddishkeit and Chassidus in particular has rested on the dedication of Bochurim who immersed themselves in Torah learning during their teenage years. In Chabad, this was not merely a cultural norm, but a clearly laid out vision of the Rebbe, who consistently emphasized the very important role of full-time Torah learning, especially for bochurim learning in the Chabad Mosdes.

The Rebbe spoke repeatedly about the unique spiritual power of uninterrupted learning in yeshiva, describing it as a foundation not only for the individual bochur’s life, but for the Jewish people as a whole. The years of yeshiva, the Rebbe explained, are not easily replaced later on. They shape a person’s mindset, priorities, and lifelong connection to Torah and Chassidus.

Against this backdrop, the decision of some bochurim to leave zall for military service reflects a significant shift. In some cases, it stems from social or economic pressure; in others, from a desire for structure, purpose, or belonging that they may feel is lacking. These realities cannot be ignored. At the same time, normalizing this path for bochurim risks weakening the very institutions that have sustained our community for decades.

This is not a question of denying the value of mesirus nefesh or responsibility toward Klal Yisroel. Rather, it is about recognizing that the Rebbe charted a specific role for bochurim: to learn, to grow in Torah and Chassidus, and to become future shluchim, mechanchim, and pillars of Jewish life. When that role is blurred, the long-term consequences are felt far beyond the individual.

The emerging trend should serve as a wake-up call — not to judge, but to reflect. Are we providing our bochurim with the support, inspiration, and clarity they need? Are our yeshivos addressing their emotional, spiritual, and practical challenges? And are we, as a community, reinforcing the value of Torah learning with the same conviction the Rebbe demanded?

If we believe in the Rebbe’s vision, then our response must be proactive: strengthening yeshivos, mentoring bochurim, and reaffirming that the beis medrash is not an escape from responsibility, but one of the greatest responsibilities a young Jew can carry.

The future of Chabad and of Torah life depends on the choices our bochurim make today. Ensuring those choices align with the Rebbe’s guidance is a responsibility that belongs to all of us. And this is not to take away the great mesiras nefesh of our soldiers fighting today for the very existence of the Jewish people.

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60 Comments

  • Andrea Karshan

    It isn’t fair that every Jew in Israel (except those with exemptions) has to defend Israel but Haredim get out of that responsibility. They benefit from others protecting their country but most do nothing themselves to help. Hats off to the Haredim who do join. It’s a great mitzvah that they are doing.

    • Chaim

      Please do your research, the Rebbe was extremely clear that a yeshiva student is not to go to the army

    • Ari

      This is about chabad, not haredim. Most israelis acknowledge the service that chabad does for the jewish people

    • chabad dark

      If you want to talk about fairness it is also not fair that frum bochrim Even those frum units Are not treated with the standard of yidishkayt That they should be treated with and that they deserve to have the army is not a place for a frum yid And definitely not the place for a bocher

    • M.C.

      while at first glance you might think this way the underlying problem is not Charedim refusing to draft but actually the fact that there is no proper place for Ultra-Orthodox Jews in the army. In the coming future G-d willing the army will be able to prove to the Ultra-Orthodox community that they are interested and ready to have them in the army without interfering with their needs.

  • Not Rabbi Y.L.

    Mr anonymous Rabbi YL
    Let the bochurim go do something positive for Klal Yisroel. There is no greater mitzvah than Ahavas Yisroel. In the army, they are literally ready to give their life to protect and save other Jews.
    Which is way more commendable than hiding behind anonymous op-eds and spouting off randomness.
    They should drag your sorry self to the army too. Make a mentsch out of you.

    • Observer

      I cant help but notice that you seem to have gotten quite offended and worked up by this article, don’t worry though this actually happens quite often when someone disagrees with the truth. please calm down because high blood pressure isn’t healthy. Thank you!

  • Proud parent

    As a proud parent of a child in the IDF and having spent some time with frum soldiers whom are all growing in the yidishkit because they are in the army and have opertunites to do mivsiom on there brothers and sisters. I ask one question why is your name not fully published

    • spectator

      It is very nice that you are a proud parent It is also very nice that there are some that grow in their Judaism well being in the IDF but public policy in general perspectives are not dictated by A select Handful Of individual cases That met I have seen many that have went to the IDF and their Judaism has only went down from there

    • Dovid G

      I hate to be that guy but what you have is called “parent bias” also if these children are growing in their Yiddishkiet in the army think about how much more (kal vachomer) they would grow and thrive in yeshiva!!!

      p.s while we appreciate your question it does not appear to be relevant to the topic at hand

  • Proud mom

    My Torah observant son served as a young bochur snd 2 tours in Gaza. He is a true chassid of the rebbe. Why shouldn’t our sons defend the holy land. Mine not yours? Kol ha kvod!

    • YYC

      kol hakavod to your son but just because in his specific case drafting to the IDF may have been the right thing to do does not mean you should encourage others to do the same by saying things like “mine not yours?” once again kol hakavod to your son

  • Ephraim Daniel Botnick

    These bochurim are shluchim in the truest sense, even though they themselves may not realize it at first. Experience demonstrates that their Yiddishkeit will strengthen and they will develop an enhanced sense of purpose.

    • spectator

      you are the problem! it is comments like these that cause bochurim to leave yeshiva and go to the army.

  • Awful

    Thank you for the Chossid Shoteh view. Now reality: The Israeli army faces more threats and has a greater shortage of manpower than ever. This is a situation of Pikuach Nefesh. The army is also going to much greater lengths to accommodate frum people. And anyone who has been to Yeshiva knows how many Bochurim are not capable of learning fulltime. I salute the Bochurim defending Yidden.

    • soldier

      I think you may have missed the point regardless though you are making facts that are not based in reality I can tell you (with information superior to what you have) that the things you stated are not true in the why you stated them despite the media (who you should never trust) saying that they are true. congratulations on making a great argument for a different situation. thanks for the salute.

  • In disbelief

    Totally disagree. We should bow down to any person who puts their life on the line to protect the Jewish people.

  • Beyond

    This entire article is inflammatory. Remove the word IDF and replace it simply with isn’t in troubling how many bochurim are leaving the system because their educational needs aren’t being met? The lack of structure or ability to meet students where they are at and find solutions for bochurim who perhaps 12 hours learning isn’t working. BH for all those who are chosing to protect Am yisroel.

  • You're right on target!

    My son left yeshiva to join IDF before Covid. Yeshivos, pay attention! I’ve always felt what the au says: that he desired structure & most of all PURPOSE (plus excitement and adventure) that he felt was lacking. He was missing support, inspiration and clarity in yeshiva. He is B”H frum & doing well, but sorely missing foundational hashkafa and learning boys should get during/after shlichus year.

    • Backwards

      If there is an 18 year old that does not have much going on he generally does not need an outlet Rather he needs something to go on and once you are getting something going on it should not be the Army Considering all the challenges that come along with it

  • Shmuly

    Since when did the Rebbe say that Bochurim should be twiddling their hands In Yeshivas instead of Tzahal. In fact, there’s a known story of the Rebbe refusing to give a Brocha to a bochur who was not learning but wanted a Ptur and it brought a lot of anguish to the Rebbe that the question was even asked as what right did the bochur have to value his life over another yid?!

    • that's your argument?!

      just as the Rebbe never said bochurim should twiddle their hands in yeshiva he also never said bochurim should go to the army in fact he actually said quite the opposite

  • Disgusting Audacity — Take This Article Down!

    This article is disgusting, full of chutzpah, and completely out of touch. The yeshiva system is broken and failing bochurim, yet you shame them for joining the IDF, where they are doing real, meaningful, and dangerous work for Klal Yisroel and protecting our people. Stop attacking them for taking responsibility. The audacity is shocking. Take this ridiculous article down immediately.

    • Yes

      This article has very good points.

      If a student could stay in yeshiva and spend his time correctly there that is great, and is what the Rebbe wanted.

      If he is not succeeding there, the writer is bring to attention the necessity to make sure that the help they need is available so they do succeed.

      If the student doesn’t have success after that, than perhaps (not sure) the Rebbe would allow.

    • David Nerenberg

      This person hides behind initials! He calls himself a Lubavitcher? He sounds like a Satmar or some other Hungarian anti Zionist.
      Truth be told, it’s a Kiddish Ha-Shem when Yeshivah Bachurim enter into the IDF.
      Additionally, we are raising a generation of sissies. Enlisting in the IDF certainly disavows that notion, like our grandson did.
      We need to be fighters. Sitting and learning is simply not

    • Lubavitcher chosid

      in response to Mr. David Nerenberg it is clear from your comment that the you are not a lubavitcher so I will teach you. lubavitch is actually more anti zionist than satmar (you did a good job noticing) the Rebbe actually said that the state of Israel pushed off the coming of Moshiach by 50 years additionally it was not stam that Zionists (poalei tziyon) tried to kill the friediker Rebbe

  • Feivel Krinkin

    This is insanity. We are not discussing career guidance week. We are at war and simply don’t have enough chayalim. Maybe Y L’s is living in Lala land and doesn’t realize what is going on in Eretz Yisrael. When we are in a state of shalom then by all means make any judgments you want. Until then don’t dare judge these chayalei kodesh and their families.

  • Up to debate

    A decision like this should be made with Mishpia. It’s not black and white. As a Father of Boys I can see that for some of my children this be a big benifit to teach them responsiblity and ahavas yisroal.

  • Mendy Hecht

    I don’t see anything wrong with frum bochurim joining the military protecting Eretz Yisroel and (for the most part) entering and exiting frum. The same Rebbe who instructed that bochurim should sit and learn also railed repeatedly that “Eretz Yisroel belongs to the Yidden” and that it must be protected and defended al pi Torah and halachah. Problems in “the system” is a separate issue.

    • Rachamim

      It’s nice to know that so many people have important opinions. It’s even more important to know whether this is their opinion or Torah’s opinion. The Rebbe was very clear on this topic. No if and buts. EY was in danger many times before, but the Rebbe stated very clearly that it is obvious that they may not be drafted in the army.

    • Dovid Hecht

      the same Rebbe also said that a bochur who leaves yeshiva to go to the army is abandoning his post

  • Rachamim

    Why does everything have to be black and white? Of course, these boys are models for SHLICHUS and ahavas yisroel. They are examples of mesiras nefesh. They are not just writing comments on the Internet. They’re doing the real difficult work that many of should be doing. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that the path they chose is the correct path. It is clearly against the Rebbe’s wishes.

  • P. McDonald

    The Rebbe did not hire you as a policeman. So butt out Just because you are a Yente you write this. It is thier and thier parents business.

    • you seem offended

      you seem deeply offended by this article. if this is your reaction to peoples opinions maybe you shouldn’t be online.

  • Chaim

    Two years in the IDF might have been great for me. I learned nothing, and don’t remember a single of the 2,000 bull sessions.

  • Chaim M.

    It’s time for the haredim to defend the State of Israel with military service, as every other Israeli citizen has to.

    Your argument has no merit, and Israel should take all legal efforts.to.enforce compulsory military service for ALL.citizens.

    You want to be part of the.country…then act like a responsible citizen

    • Context bro

      This article isnt even about local Israelis. Hes talking about the lone soldiers – the ones who get up and go across the world to fight for a cause they care about.
      And the issue at hand isnt even the military service – hes asking why they feel drawn to leave yeshiva (when its not required) and go to the idf. Context dude.

    • Bad bachur

      As I stand by the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem in my IDF uniform my yarlmuka with yechi on it standing bright in the pouring rain and my long peyot tightly braided I know my position in life

      The only thing yeshivas had better was the food

    • ignorant

      you sound quite ignorant I suggest learning a sicha and once you realize the power of learning Torah and how stupid your comment is please come back and take it down

  • Yehoshua

    The question for me is who really runs Israel? The dismal security failure on October 7th. Is beyond excusable for a country that has state of the art security monitoring. And then there was the warnings which were ignored.
    Not to mention the government pull out from Gaza in the first place. So I think all of it could have been prevented. read Perfidy by Ben Hecht. Why be cannon fodder?

    • CONTEXT DUDE

      This is literally not even the issue at hand! Also the term cannon fodder is extremely inflammatory for no reason. If you want to talk politics do it somewhere else.

  • PROUD IDF MOM

    To all of my IDF kids

    We love you and are so proud of you. Hoping your home for shabbos. Grape Juice Ices;) iykyk

    Signed
    PROUD MOM

  • PROUD IDF PARENTS

    To Our Amazing IDF kids

    We are so proud of you. Hope you’re home for shabbos. Grape juice ices ;) iykyk

    • Chabad Lone Soldier

      All us chabad lone soldiers love your grape ices and all the love your family gives us!!
      Thank you for always being there for Rebbe’s shluchim to the IDF

  • Kovner

    I am not a L chosid, but happen to be reading this. I must say I am shocked by the comments here. For a chosid, the only question should be what the Rebbe held; and it seems clear that the Rebbe held for the most part a bochur should try his utmost to remain learning. How can his chassidim write comments to the contrary?!?!

  • Thanks

    As a fellow Chabad bucher in the idf I appreciate the support really makes me wanna come back to crown heights

  • IDF soldier from crown heights

    Who are you to speak against bochurim risking their lives for yidden around the world?!! In times like these someone who doesn’t join the army is a coward and a loser. Learning in yeshiva is for some people (don’t get me started on the chabad yeshiva system where bochurim waste their time all day) and going out and physically fighting is for others. I hope hashem forgives you.

    • very sad

      the impact that the Zionist army has had on is visible in the way you speak and should serve as a deterrence for those thinking of drafting

  • Menachem

    I am a proud chussid of the rebbe, doing my shlichus as a soldier in the jewish religios army/chashmonaim, & yes there is such a thing, everything is with the chabad kashrus , in training every chabad person was given more time after shachris to put on rabeinu tam & our group of chabad chassidim learn sloshe perakim everyday, & we are only getting stronger & proud to be a chussid in hashems army

  • Donate please

    I am a fully frum chossid in the army giving my life to protect klal yisroel , doing shlichus everyday, & to all the people here who support us, tysm for having our backs, haters will hate, & would love donations if possible for good gear 🙏

  • Soldier

    I’m a Lubavitcher in a combat unit. I think the author is making a great point, that yeshivas should make more of an effort to make the experience is more engaging etc. He reiterates multiple times that he is not hating (quite the contrary) on soldiers. But for bochurim not in yeshiva, there is a sore need for combat soldiers, not sure why people before were saying that there’s no need.

  • Motti

    Rabbi Y L since you don’t give your real name this is a pashkvil
    Why can’t you stand behind your words?
    Not worth the computer it’s written on without it

  • szmul

    this debate deals with the torah question-Torah or Action(good deeds-mitzvos) which one is greater.–1) learning torah,and elevating yourself spiritually(yeshivah life) or 2) going into the world and helping jews in materially needs or spirtually needs (ahavas yisroel with mesiras nefesh).both the talmud(nigleh) and chassidus discuss this question in great length.(Rashbi,R yishmoel)

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