Top Rabbi Backs IDF Soldiers Who Refused Orders Over Modesty Concerns

Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed, head of the Beit El yeshiva, has publicly supported IDF soldiers from the Givati Brigade who were disciplined for refusing to board an armored personnel carrier (APC) that contained a female paramedic. Rabbi Melamed stated that the soldiers acted "correctly according to Halakha (Jewish law)" by adhering to their religious principles, even at the cost of punishment.

In a response to his students, titled "And You Shall Be a Holy Educator," Rabbi Melamed asserted that the soldiers' refusal was not detrimental to military discipline. He explained that the same religious guidance that encourages service and fighting in a "mitzvah war" also mandates maintaining modesty and avoiding "indecent sights." He argued that soldiers must stand firm on their religious observance, even if it means facing detention, to ensure commanders respect these needs.

Rabbi Melamed further contended that commanders who fail to accommodate soldiers' religious observance undermine their trust and the unit's effectiveness. He suggested that the IDF should resolve issues of mixed-gender medical personnel by training male paramedics, thereby preventing soldiers from being placed in situations that compromise religious law and potentially endanger lives.

The rabbi expressed confidence that upholding soldiers' rights to observe Jewish law strengthens the army and ensures its success.