Rabbi Eliyahu Zaini Criticizes IDF Spirit Document for Lacking Jewish Identity

Rabbi Dr. Eliyahu Rahamim Zaini, head of the "Or VeYeshuah" yeshiva, sharply criticized the current IDF Spirit Document during a discussion led by Knesset member Tzvi Sukkot on Monday. He argued that the document ignores the Jewish identity of the army and incorporates values unsuitable for a fighting force. Rabbi Zaini condemned the inclusion of universal values such as "human dignity," questioning its place in a military context where the primary goal is to defeat the enemy. "Where is human dignity when I come to eliminate the enemy?" he asked.

He emphasized that a soldier's main role is to achieve victory and protect comrades, stating that the key concern should be how to crush the enemy while minimizing harm to fellow soldiers. Rabbi Zaini also criticized the document's ideological and political undertones, claiming the language used distances soldiers from their operational objectives and creates confusion in the field. He argued that soldiers should not have to become legal experts to understand what is permitted or forbidden.

A significant part of his critique focused on the absence of Jewish elements in the document. He said there is "no trace of Judaism" and even worse, no Jewish spirit at all. Rabbi Zaini addressed the section referencing IDF tradition, the State of Israel, and the Jewish people alongside "universal moral values," arguing this juxtaposition creates a moral conflict. He questioned how one can claim connection to Jewish tradition while asserting that universal values from all nations override Jewish morality, implying Jewish ethics are deficient and require supplementation by non-Jewish morals.