Hasidic Musician Mendy Goldberg Shares Journey From Yeshiva Exemption to Serving in Gaza
Hasidic musician Mendy Goldberg appeared on Channel 7's podcast to discuss his decision to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) despite holding a military exemption as a yeshiva student. Goldberg explained that his path to service began about 15-16 years ago when he pursued first aid training, inspired by family members involved in emergency response teams in Beit Shemesh. After completing a 60-hour first aid course, he learned about a military program for older Haredi and religious men that included a short basic training period followed by reserve duty, which he joined while continuing his music career.
Goldberg was assigned to a unit supporting Magen David Adom during emergencies, including reinforcing stations during rocket attacks. He noted that before the October 7 attacks, his enlistment was not seen as unusual within the Haredi community. Following the outbreak of war, he was immediately called up for reserve duty, serving about a month at a northern station before transferring to a unit connected to the rabbinate. In this role, he entered Gaza several times, not as a combatant but performing medical and rabbinical-related duties alongside combat forces.
During his service, Goldberg encountered soldiers from diverse Israeli backgrounds. While he was familiar with such interactions, some soldiers were curious about his Hasidic appearance and asked questions about faith and religion. Goldberg emphasized that he is not a rabbi and cannot answer all questions but recognized the symbolic expectations placed on him due to his religious identity. These encounters sparked many discussions and sometimes debates about the worldview of the Haredi community.
Goldberg highlighted the significant cultural and religious gaps between the Haredi and national-religious sectors, noting differences in Torah interpretation and societal development. He stressed that blaming each other for military service disputes is unproductive and that understanding these deep-rooted differences is crucial. He also pointed out that dialogue often occurs only during crises, which limits its effectiveness. Goldberg believes that meaningful conversations require ongoing engagement rather than only meeting at moments of conflict.
