Addressing a Jerusalem gathering on Monday, sponsored by the weekly Arutz-7 affiliated B’Sheva newspaper, IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier-General Rafi Peretz stated, “We are enjoying a situation that was once a dream. We do not have to grab the reins and do as we wish, but to work to fit in. I think we have made significant progress regarding the relation to religion, including the chareidim. We do whatever possible to make serving suitable to chareidim too.”

The military’s top rav and Rabbi Eliezer Melamed of the Har Bracha Yeshiva took part in a panel discussion addressing achdus verses kol isha in the military.

Peretz blames the religious community for the storm that surrounded kol isha in the military. “This time, the unit that created the problem was our community, opting to go head-to-head on the kol isha issue. The army responded, saying we too can play this game”.

Rav Peretz added “one cannot play with Halacha. The army respects Jewish tradition. If only it was like this in the general population. There are issues and a need to cope at times, but we are in one IDF today. In Base 1 (officers’ training school) there were cadets who wished to walk out but when their commander said ‘please be seated’ it is different from hilchos Shabbos. When an officer says be seated, and there is a meeting of the values, one can cope and turn one’s head and not listen to the singing. We absolutely adhere to Halacha as well as preserving achdus, walking together to uphold these values”.

Responding was Rav Melamed, who stated one cannot make a distinction between kol isha and the laws of Shabbos.

“There are nice things and problems. Regarding females in the military, there is no difference if they are frum or not. In a time of war there is no difference. I do not see a practical difference. The issue of unity is expressed. The question of taking over is irrelevant for there is no gain. Talk of integrating is also irrelevant since we are already part of the nation and integrated.

“When serving is anchored in the form of a mitzvah it strengthens the attachment to the land. That is exactly why the IDF should remain a military for that purpose and not to teach feminism or other values. The value of service is significant enough in its own right and we needn’t get into other values. It is difficult to argue the point without understanding for the chareidi tzibur, [not serving] is pikuach nefesh when we repeatedly see religious soldiers have to compromise their lifestyle and at times sit in jail to maintain their religious lifestyle. Every person who is a Yirei Shomayim is first and foremost compelled to adhere to Halacha. Just as no one believes an order supersedes one conscious for the frum soldier Halacha is their conscious” concluded Rav Melamed.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)