Rabbi Eliezer Shnewald Proposes Halachic Solution for Female Paramedics in Armored Corps Amid IDF Service Debate
Rabbi Eliezer Shnewald, head of the Meir Harel Hesder Yeshiva in Modiin, addressed criticism of the recent IDF pilot integrating female paramedics into armored units during a Channel 7 podcast. He recounted a constructive meeting with the IDF Chief of Staff, which concluded with understandings allowing continued recruitment of Hesder students into the Armored Corps under conditions respecting halachic requirements. Rabbi Shnewald sharply criticized the Supreme Court's decision to impose the pilot during wartime, calling it an improper judicial overreach that ignored the religious soldiers' rights and risked causing division within the army amid ongoing multi-front conflicts.
He explained that the agreed framework prohibits mixed-gender teams, mandates separate training, and ensures no joint service of male and female combatants in the same tank, though he emphasized that implementation on the ground remains the ultimate test. Should these commitments fail, Hesder students will be redirected to alternative service tracks while maintaining their religious standards. Rabbi Shnewald also highlighted a 13-year-old paramedic training program at his yeshiva, which has saved many soldiers, and expressed hope to expand such programs across other yeshivot.
Responding to criticism of Hesder yeshiva combatants' casualty rates, he rejected claims that shorter training causes higher losses, citing personal loss of his brother, a fallen soldier, and noting that all units now undergo shorter training periods. He condemned disparaging remarks against Hesder yeshivot as marginal and unrepresentative, underscoring their significant Torah scholarship contributions and leadership roles in religious public life.
On the topic of Haredi enlistment, Rabbi Shnewald, with over 26 years of experience, disputed the notion that the Haredi community resisted recruitment, stating that many initiatives to increase Haredi enlistment were blocked by the IDF. He cited failed attempts to establish Haredi frameworks in the Air Force and Armored Corps, and warned that political disputes and extreme rhetoric hinder progress. He called for dialogue-based recruitment efforts and criticized sanctions as ineffective.
Politically, Rabbi Shnewald lamented the fragmentation within the Religious Zionist sector despite its wartime contributions, urging the formation of a unifying political framework to consolidate influence. He praised Minister Bezalel Smotrich's leadership but stressed the need for broader cooperation to increase parliamentary strength.
The interview also included personal reflections on his son Mordechai's serious injury in Gaza, his family's musical heritage, and formative encounters with prominent rabbis, emphasizing respect and measured speech in religious discourse.
