Rabbi Meir Ochana, 48, the rav of Yishuv Kfar Yonah, is married to Batya and they have BA”H seven children ages 6-17. What is unique about the rav is that at night he removes his hat and kapota and puts on his border police uniform.

The rav was released from IDF service in 1986 and entered directly into a border police command course. He received semicha from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel in 1998 and as rav of the seamline and other area communities; he heads the first response team in his capacity as a border police officer and IDF vet.

In 2005 he became the commander of the response team and in addition to responding to security alerts he takes part in volunteer patrols once monthly. The rav feels that this is the way we should live and his eldest son is enlisting and entering the tryouts for an elite combat unit.

“Limud Torah and maintaining one’s frum life do not prohibit contributing to sharing the burden alongside other sectors” he feels. The rabbi believes that by taking an active role in defending portions of Eretz Yisrael with his service he is also fulfilling mitzvos.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)