In a quiet corner of Jerusalem’s Geula neighborhood, a printed sign stands at the entrance to a residential street. In Hebrew, English, and Yiddish, it reads: "Please do not pass through our neighborhood in immodest clothes." To a first-time visitor, it may seem like a polite request. But to others, it’s a warning — a clear signal that some streets in the Holy City belong only to the modestly dressed
The timing couldn’t be more symbolic. As Israel’s High Court debates the legality of military exemptions for yeshiva students, signs like this reflect a deeper paradox: the state wants to draft citizens from communities that don’t even accept their basic presence — not in uniform, and not even in shorts
A Legal Cliff: The Draft Exemption Has Expired
In March 2024, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled there is no longer a legal basis for blanket military deferments for Haredi men. With no new legislation by May 2025, and enforcement still frozen, soldiers from other sectors continue to serve while ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students remain exempt
Public Space, Private Rules
The modesty sign issue is not new — courts have ordered their removal for years. Yet they persist. City crews take them down; residents put them back up. The message is clear: local norms overrule national law
This isn’t just legal — it’s sociological. In liberal democracies, public space belongs to everyone. But in parts of Israel, unofficial codes dictate who belongs and who feels shamed
A State That Can’t Cross the Street
The irony is sharp: the same government pushing for universal service can’t guarantee that women — or any “immodest” person — can walk freely in parts of its capital. While the court demands equality, some sidewalks still demand conformity
So the deeper truth remains: Israel wants to draft everyone into the army — but in some neighborhoods, it still can’t even walk down the street
