The Haredim in the IDF



"Soldiers of  Nahal Haredi in action."



In the Israeli Defense Force there is a unit designed to accommodate Ultra-Orthodox Jews, this unit did not exist ten years ago. In fact, it would have been called and “oxymoron” to have any relationship at all between any of the Ultra-Orthodox groups and the IDF.  The Haredim: (a word meaning to adhere strictly to traditional form of Jewish law) often stresses that all connections with the IDF should be limited or avoided all together. These extremely religious Jews follow the “Torah” much more strictly then Modern Orthodox or secular Jews. Because of these strict religious views and pressure on the government from haredi leaders who have the “political power [to] make or break government coalitions” (Rosenthal, 186) haredi scholars were freed from their obligation to serve in the Israeli army. (Rosenthal, 186) However, the number of draft-exempt religious scholars began to grow and Israeli leaders “did not foresee the astounding explosion” in the number of men that would be granted deferments. In 2008 there were over fifty thousand military exemptions granted to yeshiva student that were of draft-age. (Rosenthal, 168)  Nevertheless, a group of haredi educators realized that not every yeshiva student was destined to become a rabbi or educator. They decided to approach Yehudah Duvedani (an retired IDF officer) “with the idea to create the Nahal Haredi.”  Duvdevani embraced this idea and agreed that “the haredim would serve in a combat unit”.  Compromises between the IDF and the haredi leaders began: a base with out female soldiers, special haredi supervision, orthodox officers, and daily lectures from haredi organizers were all requested. The army agreed to pay for most of the requests but not for all. They required the haredi organizers to pay for the daily shiurim, recruitment, and personal needs of the haredi solider. Funding was not the only set back…” some of the haredi soldiers were no longer welcomed home by their families who couldn’t accept that their sons were serving in the IDF.”   Many felt like these boys betrayed all that they were taught. Arguments that the haredim “lifestyle is different and is incommensurate with the IDF atmosphere, slang, and conduct” only reinforced the stresses of the families. Many of the families feel that these young men are “not fit for military service.”  Nevertheless, the Nahal Haredi has now been a three year IDF program and has a combat ready battalion of 600 soldiers, 275 trainees and 125 participants in the third year educational vocational program. And future plans to increase the recruitment numbers are underway.

"The haredi soldiers participating in a religious ceremony"

            When reading my two online I found it interesting how one was very positive and supportive of the Nahal Haredi and the other was very critical and diminishing. The mission statement of the webpage supporting Nahal Haredi was to “provide for the unique spiritual needs of the Haredi youth, while also enabling them to participate in the defense of Israel.” It also listed that it hopes to “bridge the gap between the secular and religious populations in Israel.” However, on the other web page it was clear to see that it was reinforcing negative emotions about the IDF and any participation of the Haredi’s in the military. It even put blame on the IDF by saying that “it has been clear to us, the haredim, that we are not really wanted in the army.”  The two articles were interesting to compare because one stressed that the IDF was supportive and enthusiastic about the Nahal Haredi and the other page gave the reader a negative perspective on the IDF and their efforts to integrate the haredim into the army. When placing them together it is clear that the website in support of Nahal Haredi provided more factual and reliable information then the web page against it. The source that was unsupportive of haredim participation in the military was based more on opinion then legitimate facts.



"A solider studying  the "Torah""