Tal Law

Tal Law

In April 2000 the committee presented its report, which served as a basis for the legislation of the Deferral of Military Service for Yeshiva Students Law, also called the Tal Law on March 7, 2001. On July 23, 2002, the Tal Law in an expanded and updated version was passed in the Knesset by a majority of 51 to 41. It was a temporary law, to be renewed every five years. The law enabled a continuation of the exemptions to yeshiva students subject to certain conditions. Yeshiva students had the option to defer their military service until the age of 22. When they reached that age, they had a “decision year” in which they could perform a year of vocational training and then decide whether to join the army for a minimum of 16 months followed by annual reserve duty, or to perform a year of unpaid civilian national service if they decided not to continue to study full-time. In addition, the law also provided for the IDF's Orthodox units to be expanded, such as the Orthodox Nahal units. It also recommended that those included in the arrangement be carefully supervised and checked while enforcing the set conditions. The leadership of the yeshivas were required to cooperate on these matters. After the law was passed, the Movement for Quality Government submitted a petition to the High Court, seeking an annulment of the law. The law was also to affect recruitment within the Arab population and was later reported to have been supported by the de facto leader of the Lithuanian and all non-Hasidic Haredim Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman.