JERUSALEM: Thousa­nds of mourners took part in the funeral on Sunday in Jerusalem of a radical Israeli rabbi who led opposition to attempts to force ultra-Orthodox religious students to serve in the military.

The funeral procession for Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach, who died aged 86, moved slowly through the city towards the cemetery in the Givat Shaul neighbourhood where large crowds were expected for his burial.

Auerbach led a relatively small but fervent group of followers, known as the Jerusalem Faction, who opposed more mainstream ultra-Orthodox Jewish leaders.

He was among the strongest opponents of attempts to force ultra-Orthodox Jewish students to serve in the military like their secular counterparts.

A series of protests in recent months against such moves drew huge crowds and led to scuffles with police.

Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Jews follow a strict interpretation of religious law and account for some 10 per cent of the country’s eight million people.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2018