Enlisting 'Hardakim: "trying to sow fear in us"

Hareidi soldiers who enlisted to the IDF respond to the wild attacks against them in haredi concentrations: Since conscription of yeshiva students has become a major issue on the agenda, ads have been circulated in haredi concentrations against the recruitment, which included among others derogatory cartoons, words and name-calling.

In the ads the haredi recruits are named "Hardakim". Among other things, the soldiers were compared to IDF Fallen soldiers: "I managed to knit quite a few haredi youth who have become victims of the IDF."

Now the recruits have decided to fight this ugly phenomenon, and not be silent anymore.

One of them told Army Radio: "To compare to Fallen Soldiers is something shocking. First of all to use the term IDF fallen soldiers as a term, and to explain to the haredi community that whoever enters the army is considered a fallen soldier." He also explained the significance of the concept of "Hardakim" which the leaflet disseminators are trying to implement. "They point out in the fliers that there were proponents of Shabtai Zvi, Reform, all kinds of bad names to those who offended the orthodox way.

"And now they say that 'Hardak' is the next generation: 'A lightheaded haredi. They want everyone who sees us say to himself:' Here a Hardak." This is a derogatory name. "

Photographs of recruits are also printed on flyers, and cause much grief to families. Among the recruits are sons of respectable people, such as rabbis and mayors of haredi cities. "They are trying to decide for us if this Orthodox, or haredi without army," says the Haredi soldier to Army Radio.

"These are activists who distribute the fliers at night," they say, "They are trying to spread fear, prevent the expanding recruitment, and often succeed. Because women are afraid it will hurt their children in school, affect the ability to find a shidduch for girls. Sometimes they try to prevent the recruitment of their husband as a result. Other families move to mixed cities. We're sick and tired of it, and need to fight this phenomenon. "

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!