Rabbi David Stav Proposes Separate Units for Religious Women in IDF Combat Roles

Rabbi David Stav, chairman of the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization, addressed the issue of religious women serving in combat units of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during the podcast "Big View" on the Mishav channel. He emphasized that the discussion must prioritize Israel's security needs and the ability to win wars. Citing Jewish law, he noted that even brides are obligated to fight in a commanded war, underscoring the religious basis for women's military service.

Rabbi Stav criticized the politicization of military service debates, stating that the primary goal is national survival and victory, not religious or feminist agendas. He rejected the common religious view that religious women should only serve in national service, pointing out that nearly 50% of religious women currently serve in the military. He highlighted that the IDF has improved conditions to accommodate religious lifestyles, narrowing the gap between national service and military service.

Despite acknowledging the significant contribution of religious women to the combat forces, Rabbi Stav warned of operational challenges arising from mixed-gender units, especially in confined spaces like armored corps and artillery batteries. He explained that mixed units prevent some religious men from serving in these units, leading to manpower shortages and inefficiencies in reserve forces.

As a solution, Rabbi Stav proposed creating separate, homogeneous units composed entirely of women to meet security needs without harming any group's religious or operational requirements. He also condemned the violent discourse surrounding this issue and shared an example of a tweet he posted calling for dialogue between the IDF Chief of Staff and yeshiva leaders, which sparked backlash. He recounted a conversation with left-wing activist Polly Bronstein, who challenged secular society to consider whether they want their daughters serving in mixed-gender combat units.

Rabbi Stav concluded by emphasizing that the fight for women's rights in the IDF, including privacy and basic respect, is not a religious conflict but a matter of common sense and human dignity.