Halachic pluralism should be a way of life. I recall reading Rabbi Aharon Lichtensteins's article The Ideology of Hesder. It was a well-written defense of his own pro-hesder position. He wrote with passionate conviction but evident humility. He did not besmirch or delegitimize those who disagree.
What is the role of a yeshiva student? Does that role call for a place in the Israeli army? Great Rabbis have debated this question. It should be unthinkable that one side should coerce the other side.
Foolishly, some modern orthodox Jews propose to do exactly that. The Lapid proposals will coerce haredim with penalties. Some orthodox Jews think that's fine.
It is not. These Jews do not believe in halachic pluralism. We should allow rabbinic leaders on both sides to pasken for their own communities.
Some argue that in a democracy the government should decide these matters. Therefore we should support the draft and not defer to halachic pluralism. This is nonsense. In a democracy no one is obligated to support the government's position. Hesder yeshivas should not be coerced to emulate the Mir. The Mir should not be coerced to fully or partially emulate the hesder system.
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