Rabbi Backs Soldiers Punished for Refusing to Serve With Female Medic

Rabbi Chagai Lóndin, head of the Holon Yeshiva, issued a message of support to soldiers from the Givati Brigade's Rotem Battalion who were punished for refusing to board an armored personnel carrier (APC) carrying a female paramedic. The incident occurred during operational activity in the Gaza Strip when three soldiers refused to board the APC. According to sources familiar with the matter, when other soldiers in the platoon were asked if they would board with the paramedic, none agreed.

The rabbi likened the soldiers' decision to their religious observance and preparation for Rosh Hashanah, stating they had "stood the test." He explained that on Rosh Hashanah, prayers should focus on the revelation of God's kingdom, not personal needs, and that individuals must decide whether they serve their own interests or God. Rabbi Lóndin asserted that the soldiers serve God and the Jewish people, following the guidance of rabbis and IDF orders, which include maintaining modesty and holiness in camp. He encouraged them not to fear, stating they did what was necessary and that God would guide events, assuring them of collective support and divine backing.

Sources indicated that the company commander spoke with the soldiers, emphasizing the importance and urgency of the operational activity, but they persisted in their refusal. The brigade rabbi also reportedly approved the activity to proceed with the paramedic present due to its critical nature.

Further complicating the situation, Rabbi Tzvi Kostiner of the Mitzpe Ramon Yeshiva and Rabbi Shlomo Shushan of the Beit She'an Yeshiva, whose students serve in the affected platoon, instructed their students not to board combat vehicles with female paramedics. The Hesder Yeshivas Association supported the soldiers, arguing they acted in accordance with joint service regulations and should not be punished.

The IDF stated that under joint service regulations, religious soldiers are entitled to perform operational activities within a gender-segregated framework, except in exceptional circumstances. The IDF clarified that in this specific case, the soldiers' refusal to perform the operational activity led to its cancellation.