The first intake of volunteers for the
haredi civilian service program since the expiration of the Tal Law took place
on Sunday.
According to the Civilian Service Directorate, an alternative to
military service for ultra-Orthodox men, several dozen volunteers signed up to
the program on Sunday morning, following a five-month freeze in recruitment
since the course was only mandated by the terms of the Tal Law.
Sar-Shalom
Gerbi, who heads the directorate, met with the volunteers and praised the
government decision last month which allowed for renewed recruitment, while
decrying the fact that the directorate had to reject haredi yeshiva students who
applied since August.
Last months decision allows for up to 1,300 haredim to be
recruited to the civilian service by August 1 or until new legislation is passed
to replace the Tal Law.
There are currently almost 1,600 haredi, serving in the
civilian service at present in several different government departments and
services, including the police force, the prison service, fire departments,
welfare programs and others. Service is for one year, 40 hours a week.