IDF Veteran Nati Shaked Urges Recognizing Combat Service as Supreme Value Alongside Torah Study

Nati Shaked, an IDF combat veteran wounded in service, spoke at a Knesset discussion on the Basic Law: Torah Study, advocating for the law to explicitly recognize significant combat service in the IDF as a supreme value alongside Torah study. Shaked, who served in Lebanon, recounted a personal encounter with Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, who grasped his hand and blessed him with trembling, underscoring the spiritual weight of his military service.

Shaked explained that the call to amend the law came from injured soldiers and their families, emphasizing the need for the state to formally acknowledge the importance of combat service and its role in defending the people of Israel. He proposed adding a clause stating that Israel regards significant combat service as a supreme value, equal to the value placed on Torah study.

Raised near the Hebron Yeshiva and familiar with the ultra-Orthodox community, Shaked clarified that his position is not against those dedicating their lives to Torah study. Rather, he stressed that while Torah study is a vital value preserving the nation, the contribution of IDF soldiers who protect Israel must also be honored. He concluded by framing defense of Israel as a Torah-based imperative, calling for balanced recognition of both spiritual and military service in Israeli society.