Jerusalem – 241 ultra-Orthodox Israelis joined the ranks of the Israeli National Civil Service in January, shattering the previous record from June 2012.
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Xinhua news (http://bit.ly/Wrzr4i) is reporting that the number of enlisted marks a 120% increase from the previous record.
Seen as an alternative to military enlistment for those unable to serve, the National Civil Service provides opportunities for groups including ultra-Orthodox, religious girls, Arabs, and the disabled to serve society by placing them in hospitals, aid stations, firefighting stations, government offices, and divisions of homeland security.
Service in the National Service offers similar benefits to soldiers.
According to an administration spokesman, the service has seen a steady increase in the number of ultra-Orthodox enlisting after the expiration of the controversial Tal Law, which previously exempted ultra-Orthodox seminary students from military service.
“It’s a real revolution,” said CEO Sar-Shalom Jerby. “There’s a real desire among the ultra-Orthodox to…take part in sharing the burden in society.”
The slogan ‘Sharing the burden’ served as the centerpiece for Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party during the January elections. Lapid and Yesh Atid stunningly won 19 seats, making it the second largest party in the upcoming Knesset.
Lapid said Yesh Atid plans to make ‘Sharing the burden’ a main issue at the coalition talks.
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Thank god I don’t live in israel. Burden of society. I work for myself not society. Is there a time frame for the draft to expire?.
wow so instead of 100 people enlisting 240 people enlisted thats a 120% increase. but 240 out of what 100,000 people? Big deal. a joke