IDF Chief of Personnel Branch Major-General Avi Zamir on Wednesday met with representatives of the nation’s hesder yeshivot. The meeting was prompted by recent actions of hesder-affiliated soldiers, members of the Kfir Brigade, who spoke openly regarding their refusal to comply with any orders in the future to evict Jews from their homes in any area of Eretz Yisrael.

The actions of a handful of soldiers resulted in media frenzy, generating much response, for and against their actions, placing hesder in the sights of senior IDF commanders who are now demanding the hesder rabbonim openly condemn the actions of the soldiers and publicly reaffirm their commitment and loyalty to the IDF and the need for all to subordinate themselves to military decision. It should be pointed out that only two of the soldiers involved are hesder-affiliates.

Some senior officials have already stated they are willing to take this to an extreme, to move to cut funding to hesder yeshivot who refuse to pledge their allegiance, with members of the political left happily jumping on the bandwagon, calling for criminal charges against the more openly outspoken right-wing rabbonim affiliated with hesder, most prominently, Rabbi Elyakim Levanon Shlita of Elon Moreh and Rabbi Eliezer Melamed of Har Bracha.

Responding on behalf of hesder yeshivot was spokesman Rabbi David Stav, who explained the hesder leadership, has always been opposed to political controversy in the military. He stated it is “unthinkable” that hesder leaders and rabbonim are forbidden to speak their minds and voice their opinions, and if what they say is a violation of the law, then they too can be placed on trial. He also stated it is not correct to stage protests, hanging signs. “This turns the IDF into a summer camp and this is unwanted” he explained, warning against “an atmosphere lacking discipline” which he believes “harms the IDF”.

NOTE: Rabbi Stav is also the chief rabbi of Shoham and a rosh yeshiva in Petach Tikvah.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)