Mendel Roth Enlists In Hasmonean Brigade, Releases Song ‘I’m Running To Battle’

JERUSALEM (VINnews) —Mendel Roth, the son of the Rebbe of Shomrei Emunim , is enlisting today (Sunday) in the IDF for combat service in the new charedi “Hashmonaim” Brigade, which is set to be training in the Jordan Valley at a special training facility which has undergone a 170 million shekel refurbishment to adjust to charedi requirements.

Prior to his enlistment, Roth released a new song with a message for his fellow charedi brothers, emphasizing the importance of uniting forces, protecting Israel, and enlisting in the army.

Rata grew up in a conservative community originating from Meah Shearim. He has been creating music for a decade, and his TikTok videos have collectively garnered millions of views. About a month ago, he announced in a post, which received thousands of likes, comments, and shares, that he would be enlisting for combat service in the IDF.

Now, he is releasing an emotional song he wrote, titled “I’m Running to Battle,” as the first single from a full album that is set to be released, produced by musician Yahel Doron.

While voices from the community’s rabbis occasionally speak out against enlistment in the IDF, Roth, a 33-year-old divorcee, decided to enlist in the new “Hashmonaim” Brigade’s combat track, and the song is meant to encourage other young people to enlist in the brigade as well.

“After such a year for the Jewish people, I realized I can no longer stand by and not take part in this great and important mission called the IDF. A nation whose heart has been broken many times this year, a nation that has lost so many of its sons and daughters, a nation that sacrifices itself day and night to protect me—there is no logic or justification in my eyes for avoiding this duty and commandment,” Rata said.

“Although there was criticism about this step, I was actually astonished to hear and see the large number of positive responses to this decision from many in the community. It turns out that there are many people who think like I do and are just waiting for a larger movement to begin so that it will be easier for them within the society and community.”

“It turns out that there is a deep movement bubbling under the surface in the community, and the solution in the form of the new charedi brigade, combined with a group of people who are willing to pave the way, has great potential for success, as long as it is proven that the brigade is indeed managed in a way that properly maintains the charedi lifestyle,” Rata concludes.

In the new song, he describes what led him to decide to enlist in the IDF. “I heard I have a brother who is fighting for his brothers, his family and work for a full year he left, I saw a hero with a golden heart, and I raised the flag, I’m running to battle… And between the walls of the study hall, a bright light flashed in me, my heart cried out: “the blood of my brothers spilled like water”, I heard his pain, I saw his tears, and my heart urged me “I’m running to battle. Like King David, like Samson the hero, like the partisans who fought for the light, like the Maccabees who defeated the Greeks, I’m running to fight, to protect the Jews.”