Hesder Yeshivas Council Cites Halakha in Combatant Refusal to Serve with Female Medic

The Council of Hesder Yeshivas has addressed the refusal of Golani Brigade combatants to enter an armored personnel carrier with a female paramedic, stating it contradicts Jewish law. In a letter to the yeshiva rabbis, the council explained that the ongoing reality of Torah-observant soldiers facing daily integration with female combatants in conditions deemed inappropriate for their spiritual world and not in line with joint service orders led to the "unfortunate incident" in the Golani Brigade.

The council emphasized that soldiers are repeatedly forced to choose between their faith and their loyalty to the IDF, creating an impossible conflict detrimental to both the soldiers and the army. While acknowledging a potential error in judgment, the council argued the incident cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader challenging reality of mixed-gender service.