Rabbi David Pendel backs Hesder yeshivas' tank corps enlistment plan

Rabbi David Pendel, head of the Sderot Yeshiva, said in an interview with Channel 7 that Hesder yeshivas will continue serving throughout the IDF, while insisting on observance of the military's shared-service regulations and the sanctity of the army camp. He voiced support for the Hesder Yeshivot Association's decision to keep sending students to the Armored Corps in the upcoming August draft, and when asked directly if he backed the move, he replied, "Certainly."

Pendel said he does not expect any practical change for the incoming draftees, because the pilot program integrating female combat soldiers is not due to begin until November. "In the August draft, nothing is happening," he said, adding that he had heard of "absolute compliance" with the shared-service rules. In his view, those rules prohibit situations of contact between boys and girls, so the IDF will need to make the necessary adjustments.

He stressed that the Hesder yeshivas are not waging a fight against the army, but they will not compromise on halakhic principles. "We are not against, we are speaking with, we are not confrontational, but we will not give up even a little on halakha," he said. He said the goal of Hesder students is to integrate into all IDF units, not to serve in separate frameworks, but added, "We want shared service with the people of Israel, we do not want to enter cantonments and groups of Hasmonaeans. Shared service with the people of Israel, but God forbid not shared service with women."

Pendel said halakha forbids "continuous contact with women" and that all service roles must be arranged accordingly. He said, "We will keep watch, so that there will not be even something small that violates the shared-service law," and concluded that the army must preserve a values-based character, calling for a "holy camp, pure camp" in line with halakha and the values of the Jewish people.