Religious Zionist Rabbis Intensify Opposition to Mixed-Gender IDF Service

Senior rabbis and heads of Hesder yeshivas from the Religious Zionist community convened in Sderot to address concerns about maintaining Halakha (Jewish law) and modesty within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The meeting focused on the new "Oz Ba'Nammar" hotline, established to assist soldiers facing challenges with gender integration during their service. Participants, including leaders from Hesder yeshivas, high yeshivas, and pre-military academies, discussed the difficulties religious soldiers encounter with mixed-gender service.

The "Oz Ba'Nammar" hotline aims to provide support and guidance to soldiers encountering situations that challenge their observance of Halakha. This gathering followed a similar rabbinical meeting in Jerusalem several months prior, with attendees seeking to expand their activities and foster cooperation between religious institutions and those supporting religious soldiers.

During the meeting, initial calls to the hotline were presented, and discussions were held on case management and the need for broader support systems. Rabbi Udi Schwartz, head of the Military Rabbinate's department, outlined challenges related to integrated service, stating that the Military Rabbinate's position is that integrating female paramedics and bus drivers in certain conditions conflicts with Halakha and military orders. He also noted difficulties within reserve units.

Rabbi David Pandel, head of the Hesder Yeshiva in Sderot, emphasized the importance of independent public initiatives. Rabbi Yehoshua Shapira, head of the Ramat Gan Yeshiva, called for broader participation from yeshiva leaders to form a unified stance towards the IDF. Rabbi Dror Aryeh of the "Oz Ba'Nammar" staff stressed the need for unity on this issue, stating, "This issue has consensus, and we really need to rack our brains on how to deal with it. The most important thing is that we succeed in creating a common language, so that it is clear to the IDF what the boundaries are that must be maintained."

Rabbi Eliyahu Zini urged a firm stance, arguing that the IDF should adhere to Halakha as codified in military orders rather than prioritizing rulings from the High Court of Justice. Testimonies from soldiers and officers about difficulties in mixed-gender service were shared by Rabbi David Torjeman, who cited a senior Military Intelligence officer expressing moral concerns about integrating female paramedics into armored personnel carriers with combat soldiers. Rabbi Tzvi Kostiner recounted an incident where his students were jailed for refusing to participate in an APC activity with a female paramedic due to Halakhic reasons, noting that their stance eventually led to a positive change in military conduct.

The "Women Soldiers for the Sanctity of the Camp" staff within the "Hotam" organization issued a statement supporting the initiative and criticizing the army's conduct, calling on Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir to intervene. They stated, "There is currently no address in the army and no one responsible for the sanctity of the camp. This is an extremely serious situation that creates real damage and crises."