One of the soldiers in the IDF’s officers training ousted from that program last week has taken his case to the Supreme Court.
The soldier is basing his case on the IDF rules and regulations, which clearly state that a soldier may not be compelled to participate in a in a cultural activity that contradicts his religious beliefs. Therefore, he claims the order he and his colleagues were given, to remain inside for the women’s’ singing performance was illegal. He adds that such actions on behalf of the IDF discourage shomer Shabbos persons from entering military service.
The High Court has ordered the commander of Base 1, officers training base, to respond to the petition within one week, adding if a suitable response is not forthcoming the soldiers will be reinstated in the course.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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12 Responses
In this case, the soldier is right. The IDF should do its best to avoid these situations and give frum soldiers the opportunity to follow their beliefs. At the same time, frum soldiers must understand that the needs of military discipline and unit cohesion, especially at times of war or national security threats, will require flexibility which may occasionally result in hearing a woman sing or similiar actions contrary to some hashkafah which don’t threaten their neshamah. Both sides need to understand and respect the needs of the other.
@ #1… Hashkafah???? or Halacha? Listening to a woman singing is ervah. If that doesn’t threaten the neshoma, then what does? The zionist entity as always is looking to do away with torah Judaism. My advice would be to stay away from the kofrim and not fight to rejoin them.
If the Israeli courts were to act on behalf of a frum Jew it would be so amazing we’ll be asking what bracha to make on a miraculous event
Once again to assume that a cultural event of women singing is essential to a soldier’s training – is NUTS!! There is no response that the base commander can have to this accusation.
When the m’dina is not run al pi Torah, this is what you get.
(I have no connection to any “anti” groups.)
At a time that the IDF wants and needs the religious to join the army, this commander foolishly ‘commands’ a soldier to remain in a music hall to hear women sing. It seems to me that the commander should be expelled not the religious soldier who acted according to his (our) religion.
“similiar actions contrary to some hashkafah which don’t threaten their neshamah.”
Can you say that in English?
Are you saying that listening to female singing doesn’t threaten their neshama??
@ Mark Levin.. The very essence of the Medina is not al pi torah. your comment is equivalent to saying “when you don’t make a brocho on chazir this is what you get”
thanks voosmachtee you should write more often.
the medina and idf are in direct opposition to tora and bring danger to klal yirael.just watch turkey and nato…
“the Zionist entity is always looking to do away with Judaism”
I’m sorry, but that just reeks of anti-government sentiments. You’re entitled to think what you want, but remember that it is partially by the grace of the sacrafices that these young men make (think of those captured, still in the hands of the Arabs, or the many killed in the wars) that yidden continue to live on in Eretz YISRAEL. C’v, if Chayalim were not there to help protect, there could be more incidences like the one that happened to the family in the shtachim this year. Clearly, tzahal has to be held responsible for this decision. Kol hakavod to the soldier who upheld Torah. What an inspiration he is and a great example of the potential of hesder.
#1 – You wrote “…at times of war or national security threats, will require flexibility which may occasionally result in hearing a woman sing”
WHAT???
ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?
Are you really saying that during a national security crisis, frum soldiers may need to hear a woman sing???
Exactly what type of security crisis would necessitate hearing a woman sing?!?
The IDF has to learn that it is no longer the “old boys club” (that the Knesset STILL is) populated by die-hard chilonim like Barak and his ilk. There is a growing seriously large percentage of seriously frum boys in the most elite units and in higher and higher officer ranks. The chiloni chevra in the Israeli government and in the IDF are shaking in their boots NOT because of ARAB demographics, but because of religious demographics! The majority of those leaving Israel are the secular, and the majority of those making aliya, and with high birth rates, are the frum.
#11(AOM)- I believe what #1 is saying is that there are heteirim for a number of things that we don’t normally do, but in a military situation you might have to rely on them. One of them might be being in a parade, at attention, and suddenly a woman starts singing. To break formation would be extremely rude, a disconnect from military bearing, and just wrong. So you may have to rely on a heter of not looking at them, etc.
My real question is, did they know they were going to a concert? Did they request to be excused for religious reasons? How much time did they have? If I were them I would have sent a request up the chain of command the moment I heard of the thing, and if I was told no I would go to his superior, and if necessary, the JAG- before it even started. If this is a situation where they could have done that but didn’t, then I suppose they carry some of the blame for being there in the first place. I’m assuming (until told otherwise) that either they didn’t know, or there wasn’t time, i.e. they were just marched there or something.