Sunday's demonstration on the streets of New York City briefly shut down Wall Street and Water Street in Manhattan's Financial District, but it was a shadow of the massive waves of protests that crippled the holy city of Jerusalem just last weekend.
The ultra-Orthodox in New York took to the streets in a show of solidarity for their brethren in Israel.
The Israeli government has long exempted the super devout from their near-universal conscription, but in recent weeks have proposed changing that rule for at least some of the ultra-Orthodox.
The ultra-Orthodox aim to live a life strictly dedicated to the study of the Torah and many see a government requirement that they serve in the military as a form of religious persecution.
Police in Jerusalem said a staggering 300,000 protestors attended the event last Sunday.
Organizers of the New York City sister protest put their own numbers at 50,000.
As the largest Jewish community outside Israel, the New Yorkers have tight bonds with Orthodox Israelis, some of whom emigrated from the United States.
dailymail.co.uk