In a decision that reeks from insensitivity, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gabi Ashkenazi has announced that if religious soldiers feel performers at a military ceremony lack tznius, they have the option of turning their head, dodging the issue – demands that such performers not be part of official IDF ceremonies.
The statement from the IDF supreme commander backs the Education Corps, which is active in its pursuit of secularism in the military. The Education Corps actively seeks to halt programs implemented by the IDF Rabbinate and Chief Rabbi Brigadier-General Avichai Ronsky, who has come under fire from the Education Corp’s commander on numerous occasions, leading to Ashkenazi’s involvement.
Ashkenazi stressed that all soldiers are compelled to attend ceremonies but soldiers who find a particular performance unsuitable may turn they heads to avoid looking at the offensive act. The chief added that a soldier must remain in his place, adding he is also showing unity with his fellow combatants by doing so.
The IDF Chief Rabbinate disagrees with the chief of staff, stating there is no justification for compelling soldiers to remain at such a performance if deemed offensive to one’s religious sensitivities.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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8 Responses
So much for thinking the pintele yid was sparking when Ashkenazi asked everyone to daven during Operation Cast Lead.
What KIND of performance?
Yeesh, that’s a “Journalism 101” question that should have been asked before posting this article.
And what if the unsuitable act is a group of female soldiers singing at a ceremony? – are the frum guys allowed to stick their fingers in their ears??? Doing just that would probably work to stop this stupid policy of forcing frum soldiers to attend. Hal’vai it should work to stop the improper performance in the first place!
yerushlaim shel zahav! veshel nechoshet veshel or!
Why is this shocking? This isn’t a jewish army!! Imagine trying to preach that to the U.S. Army! The fact is that its like they were guarding some Island out in the Philippines there is nothing Jewish about the state of Israel other than the fact a nice percentage of the population is Jewish but they aren’t proud of it, Tommy Lapid would concur to that!
To iztheman: well actually if someone were to “preach” that to the US army, it can almost be guaranteed that the soldiers would be permitted to leave. there’s no reason why the israeli army should be any differant, especially to due to the fact that there is a signifintly larger amount of religious jewish soldiers in their army (nothing to do with them being a ‘jewish’ army or not, as they clearly ar NOT).
Jmo I don’t disagree with you, point well taken. If anyhthing I believe that it actually serves a greater point they try to hard to be secular and try to show how they aren’t religous and nobody(the religous)will tell them how not to be open minded. Its almost nauseating walking down the street there (I refer to the pornography and dirt there, much more there than in the states).
Why not consider having the IDF be run in accordance with halacha (cf the existing “frum” units such the Hareidi unit and the Hesder units)?
The Hilonim could serve in special “Nahal Hiloni” units?