Hundreds of new recruits are expected to join the ranks of Nachal Chareidi in the August 2013 draft. The IDF is aware that this particular group will be judged as a model by many chareidim who may now be faced with the reality of serving in the IDF.
In recent days, commanders were busy preparing for the next group of recruits, who will in the coming weeks and months undergo basic training towards being certified as combat soldiers. The Religious Soldiers Welfare Organization preempted the induction of the soldiers, turning to military officials to reconsider using non-religious commanders among the team that will be training these new recruits.
Battalion Commander Colonel Ben-Mocha convened the officers and NCOs under his command, those who will have contact with the Nachal Chareidi inductees towards understanding concerns first hand. It quickly became apparent that new personnel being assigned to train the new inductees had many questions regarding their new soldiers and their lifestyle. Not really having been exposed to frum Jews, they asked questions such as if one is permitted to smoke in front of the soldiers or if it is permissible to play music. It was clear that in an effort to meet the challenges of their new assignment, many of the staff, those who are not shomer mitzvos, were trying to get a handle on the daily life of a frum soldier.
The colonel decided to replace the inexperienced junior officers and NCOs with experienced staff to avoid an issue with the new frum recruits. Most of the non commissioned officers and junior officials dealing with the new inductees will be Torah observant, all having prior experience in such command positions.
The Religious Soldiers’ Welfare Organization sent a letter to the colonel, thanking him and praising him for intervening towards avoiding issues that are best preempted. Rabbi Shlomo Goldreich wrote “It is good that we have such officers, exhibiting sensitivity towards avoiding a situation that would significantly complicate our ongoing efforts to sign up frum soldiers for military service in Nachal Chareidi”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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10 Responses
This sensitivity is truly good news
If they continue to serve after the government starts throwing the Bnei Yeshiva in prison, they will be regarded as traitors unless they mutiny, or at least refuse to continue serving. If they refuse to continue serving, they will be seen as heroes by the hareidi community (ironically, since they were seen as drop outs before), but will be seen as traitors by the zionists.
If push comes to shove (which it might not), they will be caught in the middle. It is becoming clear that from the IDF’s perspective, the role of Nahal Hareidim was to “transition” soldiers who are leaving the Hareidi world into the Dati Leumi world. Until the moment when Daas Torah calls on them to refuse orders, we won’t know which side they have chosen.
akuperma – You have very little idea of what Nachal Chareidi is. They are not a track into Dati Leumi, nor a track fo rDati Leumi, but a track for Chareidim who wanted to serve their country.
Those who completed their Nachal Chareidi service are no closer to Dati Leumi than when they started their service.
#2 and those that decide to go for job training will be……. and those that decide to do any national service will…….. and those that decide that at age 28 they need a change and join ‘Shlav B’ of IDF will be…… and those that decide to graduate from academic programs and join the workforce will be…….
They will be part of the new Charedi Lite party of TOV, a replica of the old Poali Agudah that terminated in the 1980s. The times are a changing,,,a changing…a changing…
Let it be remembered that Rav Elyashiv, zatzal, in his last public statement, forbade shomrei mitzvos from participating in any kind of civil or military service.
#1 Jerry: I am so happy that you consider this “sensitivity” such truly good news. However, it just shows your lack of understanding of what is happening here. Nachal Chareidi has been open for years and the army never showed any sensitivity at all towards the chareidi inductees but sent them officers who had absolutely no idea what it means to be chareidi. Suddenly, to ensure that this year will be successful they are open to be “sensitive” just to make sure that there is no negative publicity this year. Next year we will be back to transitioning the chareidim to becoming chilonim or bedi’eved dati-leumi.
Interesting that Rabbi Shlomo Goldreich (Dati-Leumi) only felt the need this year to ask for sensitivity, previously he was quite happy that the officers of Nachal Chareidi were fully fledged chilonim.
Your short-sightedness is sad, prejudiced and hollow!
The Nachal Chareidi is about 75% Daati Leumi. It is hardly Chareidi.
#5-
That means that all the haredi MKs are in violation of that ruling by r’ Elyashiv.
Its encouraging to read such a positive article about the real heroes who have the courage to ignore the pressure of their peers and the chareidi extremists and are willing to share the burden of defending EY in a balanced approach. They should serve as the role models for the much larger numbers of kollel yungerleit who would spend two years sitting behind a shtender leaving it to others do take on on their obligations.
#5 Incorrect.
There are those who checked personally with the Gadol and were told to enlist.