A number of rabbonim who serve in the IDF reserves have learned that at least seven of the fourteen females who have applied to become mashgichos kashrus in the IDF are not Shomer Shabbos, Mendy Rizal of Kol Berama Radio reported last week.
In response, the IDF states the girls who applied for the program meet the criteria set forth for the kashrus training program. According to military officials, after these young recruits finish their basic training, they will enter the IDF’s first course to train women to be mashgichot kashrus. The course is scheduled to take place in Training Base 11 in January 2019.
Reservist Rabbi Lt.-Colonel Rami Ravaad, a former Chief Rabbi of the Israel Air Force, told Rizal that if these mashgichot kashrut enter their new positions, “there will not be any kashrus in the IDF. It is difficult enough for men to deal with the position and it will be that much more difficult for the females.”
Oren Henig of the Liba organization responded, “This is a serious step and dangerous precedent. The Military Rabbinate, by its very reluctance to open this course, at the same time, actively encourages the enlistment of girls into the IDF, including religious girls, and this position is intended for them; despite being contrary to the position of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, contrary to the position of the Chief Military Rabbinate, and against the absolute majority of dati leumi rabbonim”.
“Putting girls into the position that everyone who served in the IDF knows the atmosphere will be less modest than in other units in the IDF is gross irresponsibility and the excuse that they will serve in kitchens is not reassuring at all, because no one can control the placement processes in the IDF over time. On the other hand, as stated by senior military rabbis, this will destroy the IDF’s kashrut training, and we call on the military rabbinate to come to its senses and stop this irresponsible and unreasonable move.”
It should be mentioned that a few days ago it was revealed that for the first-time girls intended to serve as kashrut supervisors in the IDF will be recruited. The girls are expected to take a course and join the various IDF units to operate in their new capacity as mashgichot kashrut.
Rabbi Ravaad stepped down as the chief rabbi of the Air Force a number of years ago in protest over the sharp deterioration in the military pertaining to adherence to halacha.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
12 Responses
This is one good reason why Chareidim should not join the army. Many chilonim, including those in power, do not respect halacha and therefore it’s extremely difficult, even impossible, to adhere to halacha while serving in the Israeli army
i wonder how many of those opposed oppose women joining the IDF under any circumstance.
If they are frum enough to be a mashgiach they are unlikely to be in the army. And given that the army is a very hierarchical organization, how can you have any mashgiach who has a non-frum person in the chain of command. One can’t rely on any kasahrus agency if the top management isn’t frum. To have a reliable hecksher in the army, the people supervising kashrus have to be civilians employed by someone other than the government.
משגיחות
Nu, really. The IDF does not let you serve in whatever position you want. The unit has to accept and qualify you. Mashgichei kashrut serve in the IDF Rabbinate, which is entirely orthodox. The IDF Rabbanut isn’t going to qualify a mashgiach/mashgicha that is not ne’eman/ne’emana in their opinion. There will be no chiloni mashgichot just as there have never been any chiloni mashgichim. End of story.
As for the lack of tzniut, I fail to see haw that is more (or less) of a problem in a kitchen than elsewhere.
Yagel Libi, seems like you missed part of the news. The IDF Rabbinit is against women being mashgichim.
Yagel Libi, seems like you missed part of the news. The IDF Rabbinut is against women being mashgichim.
Yagel Libi’s comment is right on point. Opening up more positions in the IDF for frum young women is a net positive. Those opposed would be against ANY role for women in the IDF whether they were supervising kashruth in the kitchen or driving a tank in the mechanized infantry unit.
THEY’LL BE AS EFFECTIVE IN INSURING KASHRUS AS THE ARMY IS EFFECTIVE IN DEALING WITH HAMAS
philosopher – No, I didn’t miss any part of the news but I understand how one might be misled to thinking that the IDF Rabbinate is opposed to women being mashgichot by reading the YWN article above. First, the Chief Rabbi of the IDF has made it crystal clear that the IDF Rabbinate supports this. YWN, for some reason, chose not to report that and to report instead on the position of Rabbi Rami Ravaad, who is a lone, retired IDF rabbi. The IDF Rabbinate does not share his opinion.
Yagel Libi, well then kol hakovod to all the Chareidi Rabbonim who foresaw (the very obvious) pitfalls of serving on the IDF.
Actually, most of the authority was removed from the Rabbinate, so they have no say in who is hired. And these girls are probably being planted in there to ruin what little halachic protocol still remains