Reserve Colonel Rabbi Criticizes IDF's Coercive Draft of Ultra-Orthodox and Questions Military Integrity

Rabbi Ohad Tirosh, a reserve lieutenant colonel and head of the Bnei David Yeshiva for army graduates, sharply criticized the Israel Defense Forces' approach to drafting the ultra-Orthodox community. Speaking during a recent Torah portion sermon, he expressed deep distrust in the military leadership, stating he does not believe a word from the IDF Chief of Staff, based on his 20 years of experience.

Rabbi Tirosh accused the IDF of systematically deceiving the religious public by drafting policies that are not genuinely implemented, particularly regarding the controversial "shared service" order. He argued that the military demands flexibility from the ultra-Orthodox while failing to prove its own effectiveness in combat, citing the military cemetery on Mount Herzl as evidence of their shortcomings.

He framed the draft push as a cynical political maneuver aimed at diverting attention from the IDF's internal failures and waste of resources, especially among secular populations in Tel Aviv. Rabbi Tirosh condemned the targeting of the ultra-Orthodox as scapegoats for manpower issues, emphasizing that the real problem lies in the army's loss of spiritual purity and values.

Highlighting the spiritual dimension, he claimed that the army's strength depends on "purity and modesty," and criticized the integration of female soldiers in ways that compromise religious standards, recounting an incident where he saw a female soldier wearing tzitzit (ritual fringes). He concluded that the IDF's foundational power comes from maintaining holiness within the camp, quoting, "The Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp."