JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Delays and travel bans imposed on yeshiva students who have been classified as “draft evaders” in Israel are creating a deep crisis in the Hasidic matchmaking world, according to a Kikar Hashabbat report.

Rabbi Shlomo Weiss, a spokesman for the Vizhnitz Merkaz Hasidic community, described the situation as painful and chaotic:”Young men can’t fly to get engaged, families can’t attend weddings, and married yeshiva graduates are being arrested at the airport in front of their children.”

He added:”We are in complete chaos. There is no one to talk to.”

While debates over the draft law and related sanctions dominate headlines, Weiss argues that a deeper social crisis is unfolding beneath the surface, one that threatens the foundation of marriage and family life within the charedi community.

Many yeshiva students and avrechim who have unresolved military-status issues face restrictions on leaving or entering Israel. While some in the broader public may view this as merely preventing leisure travel, Weiss says the impact on the Hasidic community is far more severe.

According to him, many Hasidic groups maintain large communities abroad in places such as Boro Park, Williamsburg, London, Antwerp and Montreal. As a result, international matches within the same Hasidic communities are common.

“A typical case is a young man from Israel becoming engaged to a young woman from London. The groom is expected to travel to her community for the engagement and later for the wedding, which is usually held where the bride lives. Today he simply cannot leave the country.”

Even when community activists manage to resolve a case temporarily, other family members may still be unable to travel.

“The groom’s brothers, who are also yeshiva students, often cannot fly to attend the wedding. This creates a severe crisis and complete helplessness.”

Weiss says the problem extends beyond engagements and weddings.bYoung married men living abroad often hesitate to visit Israel:”A young scholar who wants to visit his parents, spend the holidays in Israel, or be with his Rebbe is afraid to land in Israel because he may be arrested as a draft evader the moment he passes through Ben Gurion Airport.”

Weiss recounted two recent incidents:”Just a week and a half ago, a young married man arriving in Israel with his one-year-old son was detained and arrested in front of his family.

“About two months ago, a married man arrived in Israel and was arrested early Thursday morning. There was serious concern that he would not be released before Shabbat. The arrest occurred shortly before his brother’s aufruf . After enormous efforts he was released only minutes before Shabbat began. Instead of joy, the family experienced anxiety and crisis.”

Asked whether there are efforts to coordinate with military authorities regarding special events such as weddings, Weiss replied: “We are in complete chaos. There is no one to talk to. You don’t know what tomorrow will bring.”

He noted that community activists and lawyers are trying to help individual cases but described the situation as only the beginning of a larger wave of difficulties.

Weiss also warned about broader effects during the upcoming Bein Hazmanim vacation period, when yeshiva students traditionally travel around Israel. “Many travel to the north, to Tiberias, and throughout the country to rest and regain strength before returning to study.”

His concern is that traffic checkpoints and police stops could lead to additional arrests: “That would become a widespread problem affecting everyone.”

Asked whether Vizhnitz might adopt a more pragmatic approach similar to that of some other Hasidic groups, Weiss said no.He described the position of the Vizhnitz Rebbe: “The Rebbe follows the approach of ‘Give me Yavne and its sages.’ We do not involve ourselves in the intricacies of the draft law, but he is deeply pained by the current situation.”

“The Rebbe says that the Torah world is the protection of the Jewish people with complete and absolute faith.”

Weiss rejected proposals to draft those who are not actively studying Torah: “The army today is simply not prepared or suited for the charedi public.”

He argued that military culture and values conflict with the community’s religious standards:”There are agendas and educational approaches that contradict everything we were raised on. When there is not even basic Sabbath observance and the minimum conditions for a Haredi Jew, there is no discussion to be had.”

According to Weiss, this issue differs from other disputes involving budgets, daycare subsidies, or housing benefits. “Those are technical and economic issues that people can somehow manage.”

By contrast, he says: This crisis harms the building of faithful Jewish homes in Israel. It strikes at the foundations of the Jewish people.”

He concluded: “We are standing here helpless. You cannot tell young couples, ‘Wait a month or two and the wave will pass.’ We are in a period of political instability. No one knows when elections will be held or what they will bring, and there is no responsible adult stopping this situation. Our political representatives have no answers, and this situation is going to continue.”