Some 100 dati leumi and chareidi soldiers are serving in an IDF Air Force Tel Nof Base maintenance squadron and their requests to maintain a beard have been denied. Not only has their commander denied their requests, he is not permitting them to file a request with the adjutancy, leaving them with two alternatives; to shave and comply with his order or refuse the order and face the consequences of being insubordinate.
These are not soldiers in the air force’s chareidi ‘Shachar’ program, and it appears that today, soldiers who are not serving in a unit viewed by the military as ‘chareidi’ are compelled to shave, or at least many of them. The soldiers in Tel Nof were told if they do not shave by March 1st, Wednesday, they are likely to face charges for ignoring a direct order. Unfortunately, many of them were told that IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier-General Rafi Peretz is clean shaven, hence they have no excuse.
At present, most of the group is of the opinion that they prefer going to jail rather than shave.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
Whichever IDF top brass is in charge of this policy hasn’t a politically knowledgeable nerve in his brain, and will shortly be sacked.
we must fight this shmad of the IDF and the medina, maybe all the frum in tuma of the IDF will do teshuva and leave it, likewise for the “chareidi” members of the Knesset.
It’s time for dati leumi to quit the IDF.
March 1 is not Wednesday; it’s Tuesday. This evil/stupid/brainless edict is reminiscent of Hashem hardening Pharaoh’s heart so that he would make bad choices, leading to his downfall. They have taken leave of their senses, if they go through with this bizarre requirement. They are shooting themselves in the foot. They need those chareidi and dati soldiers badly, if they want to remain in control of the situation. Maybe (hopefully) Moshiach is waiting in the wings.