Newly Trained Haredi Fighters Mark Tisha B'Av with Prayer at Western Wall and Harsh Training on Mount Hermon

Shortly after completing a grueling seven-month training program, soldiers from the Haredi-focused Netzah Yehuda Battalion, also known as the Nahal Haredi or the Hasmonean Brigade, commemorated Tisha B'Av with prayers at the Western Wall. The battalion's "Yosef" company traveled from Mount Hermon, where they had just finished an intense final week of training involving full gear and stretchers, to Jerusalem for the solemn day of mourning.

Rav-Tal Moshe described the moment they officially became fighters as "crazy," emphasizing the significance of their role in defending the people of Israel. The battalion's emblem, depicting the Holy Temple, holds deep meaning for the soldiers, especially during the Three Weeks period leading to Tisha B'Av. President Isaac Herzog visited the base on the eve of Tisha B'Av, participated in the reading of the Book of Lamentations, and spoke with the soldiers, underscoring the national importance of their service.

Rav-Tal Eliyahu reflected on how this Tisha B'Av felt different, having arrived at the Western Wall as a soldier after a night of prayers and study at the base. After morning prayers at the Wall, the newly minted fighters returned to base before departing for a ten-day leave. Meanwhile, other companies remained at the base, engaging in Torah lessons throughout the day. Eliyahu shared a personal insight, expressing a sense of bringing redemption through their service and highlighted the ongoing combat role of a Hasmonean Brigade battalion currently operating in Lebanon to protect Israel.

This first Tisha B'Av as active soldiers marked a profound moment of connection between their spiritual heritage and military duty, blending mourning for the Temple's destruction with a commitment to national defense.