JERUSALEM (VINnews) — In the wake of the public outcry over yeshiva students draft deferrals and the demand that charedi students also enlist in the IDF, Rabbi Zamir Cohen, a veteran in kiruv and the head of the Hidabrut organization, issued a short clip in which he reiterated the basic tenets of the charedi position regarding IDF enlistment.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6-abKzRBTg
Rabbi Cohen stressed first that it is untrue that charedim do no enlist as many of them do serve in the IDF and police as well as in ZAKA, United Hatzalah and other organizations. They do this “because of the values they received in the yeshiva.”
Rabbi Cohen phrased his answer “for those who believe in Hashem and those who don’t.” For those who believe, he stressed that those who study Torah have a crucial role in the protection of the people of Israel.” Studying Torah and strengthening the spiritual aspect of Israel has a critical influence on the success of the military.
Rabbi Cohen said that even gentiles are amazed at the success of the IDF in some of the most complex fighting ever attempted and this is due to those studying Torah for the safe return of the soldiers. Moreover, those who study Torah protect the continuity of the Jewish community, which is proven by all the Jewish communities which have unfortunately disappeared due to Torah not being studied in their centers of influence.
Moreover Rabbi Cohen defined the IDF as a “melting pot for secularity and leaving religion.” He brought a study that from the Religious Zionist community, between 210 and 510 of each 1000 leave the values they have been educated with and part of this is due to the atmosphere of their army service.
The IDF even has a special fund to support those who leave religious life, but none for those who return to religion from a secular background. The IDF even promotes officers based on whether they follow the line of secularizing the soldiers and talented religious officers did not receive the promotion they deserved due to their outlook.
Thus the charedi community is wary of allowing its children to join a system where such secular values are espoused and promoted.
I am old enough to remember when many chareidim did join army. I wondered why did they stop?
The answer was that the army officers made life difficult for the chareidim, making keeping shabbos, kosher, etc. purposefully difficult, if not impossible.
This is a missed opportunity where religious Jews could help their brothers become observant by explaining the beauty of judaism.
Both the “melting pot” and “fund for leaving religion” are very damning indictments of the Zionists’ “Jewish” army. But the idolaters don’t care, of course.
“Moreover Rabbi Cohen defined the IDF as a “melting pot for secularity and leaving religion.” He brought a study that from the Religious Zionist community, between 210 and 510 of each 1000 leave the values they have been educated with and part of this is due to the atmosphere of their army service.
The IDF even has a special fund to support those who leave religious life, but none for those who return to religion from a secular background.”
So well spoken is Rav Cohen, what a great spokesperson for our community.
This is a serious indictment of Charedi education. Most Daati Leumi young men go to the army and return religious.
Can he explain why 95% don’t work, but many of their wives do?
The IDF has a fund to support soldiers whose parents have abandoned them if they publicly become irreligious, not because the army promotes irreligiousity per se.
If more religious soldiers were in the army, maybe things would look differently.
How disrespectful to all the Kedoshim that gave their life Al Kiddush Hashem!
Shame on all those that look for excuses to avoid their obligations!!! Shame on all those who make blood libels of shmad etc against the very ones that are giving their life to protecting you while you eat Kugel in Bnei Brak. You have blood on your hands. You make the worst of society. Like a Yitush which is Machnis v’eino motzi.
Looking at the comments on “charedi” sites, it sure feels like I do not share the same religion as many of those commenting. They have stone cold hearts and they lack the simanim of a Yid. רחמנים, ביישנים, גומלי חסדים. These individuals lack all 3 of the simanim.
Chareidim will NEVER EVER join the IDF. Hertzel halevi is actually shomer shabbos but doesn’t wear a Yamaka due to discrimination
I fully agree they should learn torah, but do the “torah learning” in other countries. They can direct their learning for Eretz Yisroel and it safety.
Here in Israel all are equal, and all have to do their share of service, and then learn. If you don’t want to join in with the rest of society, just leave. No one will be angry at you.
Not sure why they are afraid to say time as it is, Charedim d not go to the army due to the 3 oaths, we do not fight any nation, ramban tells us in parshas vayislach, that one who is in danger should run, not fight, it’s forbidden.
And that’s the most rational argument we should all stick with
We can not blame him, he does not want his children and grand kids to go fight in Gaza or Lebanon. He happens to be a good grandfather.