As IDF officials continue to grapple over the subject of religious coercion in the army, the former head of Personnel Directorate said Wednesday that “there is indeed a problem with some people who don’t realize they have joined the army and not a yeshiva”.
Brigadier-General (Res) Elaza Stern was responding to a letter circulated by the outgoing head of the personnel directorate, Avi Zamir, who complained that a battle for authority between the Education Corps and the Military Rabbinate was harming female soldiers and officers forced to abide by rules of modesty and religion.
“We need to maintain their dignity so that they can serve in any position, as this is for the IDF’s benefit,” he said, urging coordination between the two military entities.
Stern was also outraged by Zamir’s decision to issue condemnations on his last days of office. “Army commanders must take care of what needs to be done while in office and not send out a letter on the last day,” he said.
He added that some religious rules have no place in the military, such as the prohibition on hearing a woman sing. “This is a pathetic demand,” he said.
“A soldier serving as a shooting instructor doesn’t have to touch a soldier who doesn’t want to be touched. The army is large enough and wise enough to handle all of society’s complications, but it demands thought and reason that cannot be summed up in a few rules.”
Finally, Stern said, the best solution for parents concerned over religious coercion would be to send their kids to serve in combat units.
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5 Responses
And then they want to know wht our boys stay in the Yeshiva and don’t go to the army?
Stern is a know hater of Torah Jews. He and those like him are becoming increasing bitter and irrational as they see the inevitable change of all Israeli institution to a Torah orientation. Their psychotic fantasy that there could be an Israel without the Torah is falling to pieces all around them.
Exactly why can’t the Jewish Army of Israel be a Yeshiva? Every Army in the world incorporates the religious values of it nation into military service. The real reason is that the unJews do not want the IDF to be a Jewish Army, just as they do not want Israel to be a Jewish country.
Aryeh Zelasko
Beit Shemesh
Aryeh, cut the lashon hara. How much do you know about Gen. Elazar Stern? He was one of the first Shomer Shabbat generals in IDF history. He rose through the ranks at a time when other IDF leaders really were opposed to Jewish observance. You can agree or disagree with his beliefs on IDF policy, but your hatred and bitterness are not helpful–especially during the three weeks.
Your second paragraph makes even less sense. Obviously the IDF can (and does) incorporate “the religious values of its nation” without “being a yeshiva.” In case you are unaware, a yeshiva is an educational institution that exists to teach Torah. The IDF is an army that exists to train for wars and fight wars. The IDF can accomodate religious observance without being a yeshiva.
Could someone explain to me what singing women have to do with military service?
Some might confuse the army with a Yeshiva but the guys in command seem to be confusing the army with a matinee or jamboree.
Unfortunately, the Army in Israel was originally designed to help Israel become a “melting pot,” by melding the various cultures which made it up into one big irreligious cholent pot. Came along Hesder, and then Nachal Charedi, and allowed religious boys to serve their country without having to compromise their religious level of observance.
No, it is not a yeshiva, but as Rainus so well points out, it’s not a “sing along with Chanie” jamboree either. So if some religious officers opt out of attending such “events”, what’s wrong with that? Why is Stern condemning it?