IDF Rabbinate Marks 32 Years Since Death of Founder Rabbi Shlomo Goren
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
The IDF Rabbinate marked 32 years since the death of its founder, Rabbi Shlomo Goren, the first Chief Rabbi of the IDF. A ceremony led by current Chief Rabbi Eyal Karim highlighted Goren's contributions to religious life in the army, his wartime leadership, and his establishment of religious infrastructure like kashrut and Shabbat observance. Rabbis continue to follow Goren's path in supporting soldiers and handling sensitive missions, including identifying fallen soldiers.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- The IDF Rabbinate marked 32 years since the passing of its founder, Rabbi Shlomo Goren.
- Current Chief Rabbi Eyal Karim praised Goren's combination of Torah scholarship, leadership, and security responsibility.
- Goren's influence on wartime operations, including identifying fallen soldiers, was emphasized.
- His work establishing military kashrut and Shabbat observance was noted as foundational.
- Rabbi Karim pledged to continue Goren's legacy in IDF religious services.
The IDF Rabbinate commemorated 32 years since the passing of its founder and the first Chief Rabbi of the IDF, Major General Rabbi Shlomo Goren. The ceremony, attended by senior IDF rabbinate officials, Goren's family, and admirers, highlighted his contribution to shaping the IDF and establishing systems that enable soldiers to maintain a religious lifestyle during their service.
Presiding over the event, the current Chief Rabbi of the IDF, Major General Eyal Karim, spoke about Goren's legacy as a Torah and public leader who combined deep Torah scholarship with responsibility for Israel's security. Karim described Goren as embodying the concept of "Sefra v'Sayfa" (book and sword), emphasizing that Goren was not content with study and teaching but actively engaged with public and practical challenges, acting for the benefit of all of Israel and upholding Torah principles even in difficult times.
A significant portion of the memorial focused on Goren's influence on the IDF Rabbinate's wartime operations. Rabbi Karim noted that IDF rabbis continue to operate in the spirit of Goren's path, supporting fighting forces, bolstering their morale, and undertaking complex and sensitive missions. He specifically mentioned the identification and burial of IDF fallen soldiers, a task Goren considered a particularly important mission, and his vision of leaving no fallen soldier or agunah (woman whose husband's whereabouts are unknown, preventing remarriage) behind.
Karim also addressed Goren's foundational work in establishing the army's religious and kashrut infrastructure. Goren established the military kashrut system and worked to regulate Shabbat observance in the IDF, believing the army should serve all segments of the people and enable soldiers with different lifestyles to serve together. These initiatives, Karim stressed, were part of a broader concept of the IDF as the "people's army," where arrangements for kashrut and Shabbat observance allow all soldiers to serve jointly.
Concluding the ceremony, Rabbi Karim reaffirmed the commitment to continue Goren's path in both routine and wartime operations. "His work will continue to guide our rabbis, our fighters, our commanders, and our leaders, from generation to generation," Karim stated.
