Israel Matzav

It starts: IDF indefinitely postponing creation of Haredi infantry brigade because there are no soldiers

A lot of people in the Haredi community warned that trying to push young Haredi men to the wall and forcing them to enlist would mean that the community would close ranks and those who would have enlisted no longer will. Now, it's happening.

The IDF had planned to create an additional Haredi infantry brigade in parallel to Netzach Yehuda, which is the largest combat brigade in the army. A commanding officer had been chosen. The unit was ready to go. But, reports Maariv, no one signed up (link in Hebrew).

The new brigade was to have been drafted in March (as in now). The IDF recently gave notice that the creation of the brigade is being postponed due to an absence of recruits who meet its criteria. And pity the poor guy who was supposed to command this unit. He's been told that if another unit is not found for him, he will have to leave the army.

The army is still hoping to create the new brigade by August.

Maariv notes that until now, the only part of the Haredi community that was totally opposed to drafting Haredim was what it calls "the extreme fringe of the Lithuanian community headed by Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach. But recently, the majority of the Haredi community has expressed its opinion that it must take a more extreme stand and oppose all drafting of Haredim.


Perhaps the yeshiva heads should thank Yair Lapid for ensuring that no one else will leave the yeshivas for some time to come.

Labels: God, Haredim, IDF, Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach, Torah, Yair Lapid

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:42 PM