IDF Rabbi Praises Soldiers Refusing Orders Over Religious Concerns

Rabbi Yoni HaRosh, who served as the rabbi for the elite Maglan unit during Operation Protective Edge in Gaza in 2014, has spoken out in support of soldiers from the Givati Brigade who recently refused a direct order. He lauded their actions as an example of what is expected from students of Hesder Yeshivas, who are encouraged to uphold Halakha (Jewish law) without fear, even at the cost of imprisonment.

Recounting his own experiences in a "crowded" armored personnel carrier during the 2014 conflict, Rabbi HaRosh described the difficult conditions and the "forced intimacy" inherent in combat vehicles. He noted that while a female paramedic served professionally alongside soldiers, the core issue is the military's placement of religious soldiers in "impossible situations" that compromise their observance of Jewish law.

Rabbi HaRosh argued that the military exploits the dedication of religious soldiers, knowing they will not abandon their posts, thereby normalizing what should be an exceptional breach of religious law. He stated that what began as isolated incidents in 2014 has become a systematic practice, leading to the current "boiling point."

He specifically praised the Givati soldiers for refusing to enter a "Namer" (heavy armored personnel carrier), emphasizing that this is precisely the stance Hesder Yeshiva students should take. However, he stressed that this struggle should not fall solely on the shoulders of individual soldiers but on the leadership of the Hesder Yeshivas and the national-religious community.

The rabbi criticized the military for hypocrisy, contrasting its opposition to Haredi draft refusal with its alleged disregard for the lifestyle of the national-religious sector, which he claims comprises many of the IDF's combat soldiers and officers. He asserted that the message to the IDF must be clear: "We do not perform a mitzvah through a transgression." While acknowledging the religious commandment to go to war, he stated that soldiers have never been permitted to enlist with the intention of violating Jewish law. He called on the IDF to cease its "progressive coercion" and ensure the basic rights of religious soldiers to observe Halakha, just as it does for other sectors.

Rabbi HaRosh concluded by noting the significant loss the IDF would suffer by alienating Hesder Yeshiva students, making the Givati soldiers' refusal a pivotal moment in the relationship between the IDF and the national-religious community. He is the head of the Hesder Yeshiva in Beerot Yitzhak.