The weekend section of the weekend Haaretz (Hebrew) provides front page coverage of the success of the IDF enlistment into custom tailored programs in the Israel Air Force for chareidim.

The article begins by describing one such individual, Omer Yisraeli, who went to yeshiva and then kollel, but began looking down the road, seeking to make some critical life decisions. Omer speaks of his friend, who enlisted in the IDF, the air force, joining a special program catered to a chareidi lifestyle, providing him with skills in computers. This program accommodates chareidi men, even married with children.

Omer, 22, from Elad began to probe and ultimately, he too joined up, serving in a Ramat Gan area base. 25-year-old Meir never learned anything about computers in his yeshiva world, and today, he serves in a classified unit which brings him much satisfaction and fulfillment.

Meir admits “Two years ago, I never would have seen myself here, with a military career. There is something qualitative here, something that will assist for my future as well”.

The IDF has already signed up over 400 chareidim to the Shachar (Sheirut Chareidi) program, in addition to 500 soldiers who have joined Netzach Yehuda (Nachal Chareidi). IDF Chief of Personnel Major-General Avi Zamir is pleased with the induction of chareidim, explaining it assists in alleviating the critical manpower shortage, fearing the concept of the ‘people’s army’ may be folding. He feels the inclusion of more and more soldiers from segments of the community that have not served in the past, chareidim and Arabs, is a win-win situation for all.

One officer serving on the IDF General Command is quoted anonymously as saying “If I would have approached the rabbis about service ten years ago they would have thrown me out but today, there is support, albeit some by passive silence, and its contributes to the effort”.

The officer attributes this to the difficult socio-economic realities in the chareidi community, adding that some have began opening their eyes and realizing a solution must be found. Some of the Shachar inductees are serving in computer units, while others are air force technicians and some are even in military intelligence.

Former air force commander Major-General Eliezer Shkedi was most enthusiastic to begin the program, explaining “after all, all of our grandparents were chareidim. This is our people…”

Speaking to a military rav, Shkedi adds he wants the best, advising the chareidi youths to attend the best yeshivos, seeking the sharpest minds for his program. “Go to the best yeshivos, Chevron, Mir, and bring me the best and the brightest to serve as techs”. Quite honestly, the rav was surprised to see how these young men have managed to excel at their new careers without having a background in mathematics or English but they do manage to address the advanced technology of an F-16.

Shkedi however understood that they may not know math or English, but they have developed excellent learning skills, spending 14 hours daily in a beis medrash. He was not deterred, confident that with their keen abilities and high motivation, they could learn the necessary skills for the job, and he has been proven correct, with the program being a total success.

The program began three years ago, and today, 400 soldiers are serving in the “Shachar Kachol (blue- air force) program in 22 technical positions. This would include electrician all the way to electronics. There are already 5 officers and two will soon complete officers training and 15 have signed on for career service.

The air force is pleased, with the results and the fact that they made a small dent towards tearing down the social walls that keep different segments of society isolated from one another.

Air force officials are truly pleased, explaining that the formula is simple. “We need highly motivated individuals with the capabilities, and the chareidim need a livelihood. If they leave the army as chareidim then the program is a success. If they change their lifestyle, then we have failed and the program is in jeopardy”.

Air force personnel officials report all the soldiers from Shachar are married with children, and on an average, serve two years. Today, they are home daily, and therefore, we must assign them to bases in the Center and not the Negev region. They are provided with glatt kosher food and army requirements insist on a blatt gemara daily.

Officials admit it has not been easy, setting up a chareidi army, the segregation, explaining to the other soldiers why the conditions for Shachar are different.

Betzalel Singer is 25, married with a child. When he was asked “What did you learn about the non-frum”, he replied, “I found wonderful caring people with good values, good people-to-people skills”.

A survey seeking to measure motivation was carried out in the IDF and the most highly motivated branch was that of the chareidim.

Today, the soldiers in Shachar receive NIS 3,000 monthly, demanding additional funds from the treasury but with the realization these are individuals who are married with at least one child.

As they prepare to leave the military, the air force seeks to assist them in finding a job in the civilian world as well.

The senior General Staff officer views this as a “national project, not a military one”, admitting the cost is far greater than was anticipated, citing the high tech training, accommodations and other factors”, but all are pleased with the results and the first Shachar members being discharged serve as ambassadors for future candidates for the program.

A new track is opening in the air force and this coming summer and officials hope to bring 500 new chareidi soldiers, explaining the air force can accept up to 1,000 “without impacting the fabric of the air force”. Officials feel if the IDF can pull in 3,000-5,000 chareidim, the operation will have been a success and this will have become “the next Russian aliyah”.

To date, the army has not reached out to yeshivos, preferring word of mouth towards attracting potential inductees.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)