The Document the Rebbes Submitted to Trump

Today, Thursday’s, meeting at the White House was, on the record, purely symbolic and Hostoric — but the Rebbes who met with the President, including the anti-Tzioni Satmar Rebbes, presented the American president with a letter demanding his intervention on the issue of the IDF draft crisis and requested help with the fact that U.S. citizens holding dual citizenship are unable to leave Israel.

The letter delivered to the President was initiated by Chotzvei Chomas — the Aid Organization for IDF draft refusers, a resource and counseling center headed by Eida Hacharedis Askan R’ Shimon Shisha.

The letter, dated September 3, 2026, was signed by all the Rebbes before being submitted to the President.

It reads: “In the name of tens of thousands of Jews living in Israel today, we write to ask for your help in a matter of the greatest importance to us.”

The letter continues, thanking the President for the kindness he has shown the Jewish people even before taking office, and states: “It is in light of this longstanding relationship that we plead for your intervention on behalf of 100,000 students attending yeshivos and rabbinical seminaries in Israel. There is no need for us to explain to you the unique way of life of charedi Jewry, commonly known here in the United States as the ultra-Orthodox community.”

“For close to two centuries, students attending recognized religious schools and training to become ordained ministers have been exempt from conscription into the U.S. Army. For more than seventy-five years, a similar exemption existed in Israel. It was recently revoked—a step that has had a devastating effect on the charedi community,” the letter states.

They add: “It seems inconceivable that, in the Land of Israel, the religious liberties of Jews are being denied. Tragically, however, this is the case. Tens of thousands of G-d-fearing students, whose only desire is to continue living according to the traditions of their forefathers—going all the way back to the Patriarchs—are living in genuine fear.”

The letter states: “As we write these words, dozens of students are incarcerated in military prisons for refusing to enlist. Every charedi Jew of draft age walks the streets with trepidation and goes to sleep at night knowing that he may be arrested at any time—solely because of his religious beliefs.”

On the issue of dual citizens, the Rebbes write: “They are unable to leave the country for any reason, including to seek shelter elsewhere. It is our understanding that thousands of American citizens who hold dual citizenship are unable to return home.”

The letter closes with a direct appeal: “Mr. President: Not since the days of the Founding Fathers has the world seen a leader so determined to defend religious freedom. You will go down in history alongside Thomas Jefferson and George Washington for your courageous efforts to help Jews throughout the world practice their faith in tranquility.

We respectfully ask you to direct your administration to take up this matter with the highest echelons of the Israeli government and urge its leaders to follow your example by protecting, rather than persecuting, the religious liberties of ultra-Orthodox Jews.”

The letter was signed, “With profound gratitude and our warmest blessings.”