Israeli Yeshiva Rabbis Monitor Military Integration Ahead of November Draft
Senior rabbis from the Union of Advanced Yeshivas held an online meeting to review their ongoing opposition to the integration of female soldiers into the Israeli Armored Corps. The discussion included dozens of yeshiva heads, military experts, and other stakeholders. Moshe Gutman, the union's CEO, summarized the efforts since the campaign began several months ago, highlighting meetings with military officials, public debates, and a direct session with Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir.
The initiative started with the "Rabbi Druckman Forum," which united rabbis from various streams of Religious Zionism to coordinate a broad-based response. The rabbis also reviewed parliamentary actions, including cooperation with over 70 Knesset members from both coalition and opposition, and a Knesset conference initiated by MK Ohad Tal that gathered lawmakers, rabbis, and public figures.
Participants included Rabbi Yitzhak Sabato of Yeshivat Metzpeh Yericho, Rabbi Beni Kalmanzon, Rabbi Tamir Granot of Yeshivat Orot Shaul, who shared personal reflections from his fallen son's diary about the dilemma of continuing service in the armored corps amid female integration, and Colonel (res.) Eliezer Shenold, former senior officer in the Armored Corps and head of Yeshivat Hesder Modiin, whose son Mordechai was severely wounded in combat.
The discussion revealed the involvement of Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in negotiations with the IDF. Katz reportedly instructed the Chief of Staff to avoid conflict with the religious public on this issue. Despite expressing disappointment over the inconsistent enforcement of the joint service order, the rabbis welcomed the IDF and Chief of Staff's commitment not to mix male and female soldiers in combat maneuver units. They remain cautiously optimistic and will closely monitor implementation ahead of the November draft.
Moshe Gutman concluded by emphasizing the importance of mutual responsibility and unity in service as national strength, affirming their refusal to exclude yeshiva students from service or weaken the IDF. He thanked the political leadership and Chief of Staff for their leadership and decision to continue working together.
