Israeli Police Chief Rabbi Honors ZAKA Volunteers for Their Role in Iron Swords War
A special educational event was held this week at the ZAKA base in Bnei Brak for the organization's volunteers, focusing on complex halachic (Jewish legal) issues that arose during the recent "Iron Swords" war. The event featured the participation of Israel Police Chief Rabbi, Superintendent Rabbi Rami Berakhyahu, who recently published a comprehensive book titled "In the Swords of Heroes," addressing these sensitive halachic questions encountered by police and emergency personnel during the conflict.
Rabbi Berakhyahu expressed deep appreciation for ZAKA volunteers, highlighting their crucial role alongside police forces at the Shomera camp, where they helped identify victims of the terrorist attack on Simchat Torah 5784, including 58 police casualties. He praised their professional, dedicated, and sensitive work, emphasizing that their cooperation ensured the proper respect and halachic observance for the deceased.
ZAKA CEO Rabbi Tzvi Hassid also thanked Rabbi Berakhyahu for his steadfast support, noting that the ongoing professional and halachic partnership with police rabbis empowers volunteers to operate confidently while strictly adhering to Jewish law and honoring the dead. Rabbi Eliyahu Kav, the Tel Aviv District Rabbi for the police, accompanied Rabbi Berakhyahu at the event.
During the session, Rabbi Berakhyahu presented several complex halachic questions that arose during the war and shared precise rulings made after urgent consultations with leading rabbinic authorities. The book includes many of these rulings and endorsements from Torah leaders. Rabbi Berakhyahu emphasized that the halachic identification of war casualties was based on a unique combination of scientific expertise and the continuous presence of ZAKA volunteers in the field, a collaboration officially recognized in a letter from Rabbi Yaakov Rozha, ZAKA's chief rabbi.
At the event's conclusion, Rabbi Berakhyahu personally gifted each ZAKA volunteer a copy of his book with a warm dedication, honoring their exceptional dedication, unique contribution to preserving the dignity of the deceased, and true acts of kindness.
