Members of the Netzach Yehuda Battalion, known more commonly as Nachal Chareidi, who recently completed their assignment in the Jordan Valley area, now find themselves in the midst of a comprehensive battalion level training exercise. Such an event is standard practice for all infantry battalions, usually holding a major training event annually.
In addition to the standard review of military skills that are part-and-parcel of soldiers’ tools, for the Netzach Yisrael boys it will also include wartime spiritual training – covering many questions as to one’s observance of mitzvahs in a wartime situation. This will include but not limited to a shortage of glatt food during wartime, davening while on duty or in a hostile environment.
Under the command of Lt.-Colonel Itzik Guy, the Nachal Chareidi soldiers began the experience with a three-day tour of the Golan Heights intended to familiarize them with the area. The actual warfare will take place during the course of a week, concentrating on skills such as urban warfare using live fire, as is customary for combat units in such a major training event.
The chareidi unit received much praise for its service in the Jordan Valley, with soldiers being highly motivated, and they are confident that the exercise will enhance their military abilities, learning new skills and polishing some old ones.
During the training exercise the religious aspect of their lives will be put to a test, but glatt battle rations will be on hand and davening schedules will seek to accommodate the needs of the combat situation, giving soldiers a real taste of such a situation should a wartime scenario become a reality G-d forbid.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
7 Responses
hashem should help them. they should all be safe
I strongly protest “letter #4.” The true heroes of our world are the Yeshiva bochurim who are osek b’torah bameilus. Don’t forget it!!
It is ironic that these boys, by choosing to become warriors, are at the same time the cause of such spreading of shalom. There are Chiloni soliders and citizens whose opinions of the Torah world will be foreever altered for the better just because they see the dedication and behavior of these charedi soldiers (and their hesder counterparts). The sometimes seemingly ever widening gulf between different factions of the Am Kodosh is narrowing, at least in one place. We can focus divisiveness, or we can focus on unity. It is up to each of us to make that choice.
Well said Zionflag. Nachal Chareidi, unfortunately is looked down on here in Israel as being a b’di eved for the “p’chachim” – those who don’t want to learn. Society has got to come to terms with the fact that not every boy is cut out for sitting in a yeshivah fulltime. This is a great option.
#5: We learn from Yaakov’s preparation for battle with Esav that proper preparation requires three elements: (1) prayer/Torah study, (2) diplomacy (in Yaakov’s case, he offered gifts to Esav), and (3) preparation for war (he did this by dividing the camp). It has been said that Yeshiva bochrim provide the first leg of this tripod. But, is it right or wise, even, to rely on the chiloni to provide the other two legs? In an ideal world, every one would be learning Torah. In such a world, we would have no one but ourselves to conduct diplomacy and war. Certainly, then, it is important that we prepare our youth to perform all these tasks, if necessary.
To #11- Did I say otherwise? I just made a comment as to those learning Torah being real heros. But FYI (and #7), there are many soldiers in the Nachaal Charedi that are not frum at all. One recently told me personally that he does every aveira in the Torah except one. He’s not the only one. I know many others. Some are learning a little and davening. Others don’t. It may still be a good idea for them. But don’t tell me they are all tzaddikim. And don’t tell me they’re bigger heroes than true Yeshiva bochurim.
Finally, I wish all soldiers much hatzlacha in both ruchnius and gashmius.
#12 On what basis do you make your comment? On the eidus of one specific soldier about himself? And as a soldier in the IDF we know that he is being a productive member of society and more-as he works to defend Jewish lives. To state the obvious, in almost any “frum” institution, if you look hard enough you can find someone who is not so frum.
There are many many soldiers in the nachal Charedi unit who are frum. There is little reason to join that unit for one who is not frum. Why not focus on the positive?