The IDF Personnel Branch is recruiting females into the military to serve as mashgichim, defying the opinion of the IDF Rabbinate, moving ahead with its plan to continue integrating women into additional branches of the military.
It is reported the IDF made the decision fourteen years ago, in 2004, but for various reasons including the opposition of the IDF Rabbinate, it has not been implemented until now.
A number of months ago, Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) reported that despite being contrary to regulations, the IDF Rabbinate continues to object to bringing women in as kashrus supervisors, but today, this is coming to an end as other branches of the military have chosen to circumvent the IDF Rabbinate to create facts on the ground.
As such, for a first time in IDF history, on 3 Teves, females will be inducted into the IDF to serve as mashgichot kashrus, and they will have to take a two and a half week course tailored for them, upon which, if completed successfully, they will be certified and begin taking responsibility for kashrus in the IDF. Until today, that course has been closed to women, but this is about to change.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
Unfortunately, the MO in Israel are being undermined by many joining the Conservidox camp. Whether or not women may, according to strict halachic guidelines, serve as mashgichim is irrelevant if IDF Rabbonim feel it is not appropriate.
These female “mashgichim” are likely daati leumi, not secular, and they are not following their own Rabbonim. Shame on them.
I read that there will be two women in the course, so one must assume that they will be in the same course as offered to men. So men who wish to serve as kashrus supervisors in the Army will have to be in a course with women?
Perhaps this is less bad than the decision to stick women in tanks with men, because of the close quarters, and the lesser physical strength that women have to perform such a task, thereby rendering military preparedness inferior to “gender inclusiveness.”
However, it seems that the whole military kashrus will suffer because those who serve in kashrus supervision will be on the fringe, both the women, whose first priority is “gender inclusiveness” rather than following their rabbis, and also the men, who have no objection to being in a course with women.
The whole society is going downhill because of these trends to change the status quo and ignor what is the responsibility of the rabbis, both in the IDF and also at the Kotel.
Tradition is thrown out the window.
I hold the PM responsible for this.
He may be a good leader in international affairs but, domestically, he cares more about Reform Diaspora Jewry than his own coalition partners which he never ceases to disregard.
Very sad…H’ have rachamim.