In an interview given by the Chief Sephardi Rabbi of Tzefas, HaRav Shmuel Eliyahu to Radio 103 FM, the rabbi attacked the IDF’s policy of integrating women into the army: “I think that the army is a men’s affair. In my opinion it is not appropriate for girls to take a rifle and shoot ”

The rav explains that enlisting females into the military contradicts the will to induct chareidim. “We think that enlisting chareidim is a bracha, essential and necessary, but you cannot integrate them into the army when the chief of staff tries to mix them [men and women] all day.”

The rabbi ended his remarks and attacked the chief of staff personally: “I hope Eizenkott resigns as soon as possible”.

Eizenkott is due to retire by the end of 2018. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman has indicated that he has already decided on his replacement but is not revealing the name to the public or the officer who will replace Eizenkott just yet. Life for religious Jews under Eizenkott has been difficult, the most difficult than it has been in many years. He has usurped the authority of the Military Rabbinate and has implemented mixed gender units and taken other measures that too often place religious soldiers in a position challenging or actually contradicting halacha.

According to the Ministry of Defense’s Social-Security Unit, this year the number of religious girls who enlisted in the IDF through the midrasha track reached a record high, with 308 religious girls enlisting in the IDF since the beginning of 5779, 15% higher than last year and more than 100% higher than in 2014.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)