24 rabbonim affiliated with France’s armed forces are visiting in Israel to get a first hand look at members of the IDF Rabbinate in action. Included in the delegation are rabbonim serving in the French army, air force and navy, as well as members of the prison authority.

The Jewish community comprises about 1% of the population, and it maintains an equal standing in the military. Unlike in Israel, military service is not compulsory but voluntary, a paid service, which maintains rabbonim and other clergy to meet religious needs of soldiers.

The delegation met with IDF Rabbinate officials this week, including Chief Rabbi Brigadier-General Avichai Ronsky. Panel discussions addressed the life of a Jews in the Israeli and French military, as well as halachic issues pertaining to kashrus and Shabbos. The toured the Rabbinate’s facilities, including a close-up look at equipment used to kosher kitchens, especially ahead of Pessach.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)