Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yona Metzger Shlita spoke with Kol Chai Radio on Thursday afternoon, asked to comment on the ongoing tensions surrounding kol isha in the military and other related matters.

The rabbi explained that he does not have the details of recent events, and therefore his response is more conceptual than addressing a specific case. He commended the Shachar program, which is now comprised of hundreds of chareidim. He feels the program is providing quality manpower for military and permitting the inductees to advance in their lives in an appropriate atmosphere.

The rav explains that the IDF agreed to accommodate the religious lifestyle of chareidim entering Shachar, including kashrus, setting aside time for learning and tznius issues. He feels the arrangement is a win/win situation. However, if the military begins to unilaterally change the terms, moving away from the agreement with the rabbonim, it could lead to the end of the program and this would be most unfortunate.

Kol Chai:
Is there a problem in your opinion for frum soldier to serve in the IDF in a regular unit?

R’ Metzger:
Unquestionably there are challenges for we live in a mixed society. For example, a soldier in a regular unit must get up earlier than everyone else to daven, and rarely will he have a minyan.

Kol Chai:
Why don’t we have a policy to state what the problem is, in uncertain terms as opposed to walking out of an event, trying to avoid attracting attention? The media does not understand and then they report soldiers are walking out. It might be better to explain upfront.

R’ Metzger:
There is no definitive policy. People can opt to accept a chumra and it is there right. We cannot tell an 18-year-old soldier that anyone who hears a women speak should run and speak to his commander. It simply does not work this way. There is a concept of ‘Eis La’asos LaShem Hefeiru Torasecha’.

Chief rabbis over the generations took part in state ceremonies, which to my sorrow included kol isha. This includes Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. They did not walk out in protest. They found their own personal solution, perhaps to concentrate on learning or something else. When I was a soldier for example I did walk out but I was not chief rabbi then.

Kol Chai:
I mean to say there are different hashkofos and we should not look at those soldiers who feel the need to walk out as if they are acting improperly.

R’ Metzger:
You are correct, as I said earlier, one should be permitted to live one’s hashkafa, adhering to Halacha as one sees fit. Each person must be permitted to live his life and in accordance with one’s Yiras Shomayim.

Take for example this week’s incident involving Deputy Minister Yaakov Litzman. I was there and I did not notice him leaving. I am not sure why he left. We did not discuss it. Perhaps it was for a different reason, not kol isha. Whatever the case, there was no fuss. I had to remain for after the performance I was responsible for affixing a mezuzah.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)