Two bereaved fathers whose children were killed in battle against Hamas published a letter on Wednesday morning calling on their friends in the National Religious sector to stop their attacks on the Chareidi sector. The letter comes against the backdrop of the recent debate surrounding the Chareidi politicians’ attempt to condition their support of the state budget on the passing of a Charedi draft law, an initiative they ultimately dropped due to the low likelihood of its approval. The letter states: “Recently, we’ve been hearing and experiencing increasingly loud voices against the Chareidi sector and its non-participation in military efforts. Furthermore, some voices even declare that this fact is what led to the abandonment of areas in the Gaza Strip after they were conquered, forcing the IDF to risk reclaiming them, and more.” “We are part of the National Religious community, a sector connected to Batei Medrash on one hand, and Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael on the other hand.  Our community indeed bears burdens like many other sectors of the Am and has paid a heavy price relative to its size in the current war. Our children, Ori, Hy”d and Gilad, Hy”d, have indeed demonstrated this commitment with their lives and bodies.” “We feel that the unrestrained attacks on the Chareidi sector and the blaming of it as if it solely bears the responsibility for everything we have endured over the past year is disproportionate. We must understand that the failures of the October 7 assault were not related to, nor dependent on, the recruitment of the Chareidi sector to the IDF. The ‘conceptzia’ [the theory that Hamas was deterred] that collapsed, which lulled us all, combined with social divisions and dangerous polarization within the Am, are what led our enemies to breach the flimsy borders that made us feel secure.” “Recruiting a battalion, brigade, or even a division of Chareidi soldiers won’t bring about systemic change, won’t lead to a shift in security perception, and won’t return the residents of the north to their homes tomorrow morning, or restore deterrence.” “Of course, this doesn’t exempt the entire Chareidi sector from taking responsibility. You, who make up a significant part of the population in Israel, need to understand that there’s no more critical time than this. We expect the Chareidi leadership to feel the weight of the moment and the gravity of responsibility, and take the initiative on the issue rather than publicly opposing any proposal or attempt at mediation that arises.” “There is a supreme moral obligation on all of us to stop directing blame at each other and to direct our strength against the real enemies who wish for our destruction. There is room under the stretcher [military burden] that is being carried by all of Israel these days for everyone: for settlers, kibbutznikim,  Chareidi people, the left and the right, the rear and the front. None of us has the zechut not to bear part of it. All for one and one for all.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)