32 שנים לפטירת הרב גורן | גדלות תורנית, גבורה ומנהיגות

The Military Rabbinate marked 32 years since the passing of its founder and the first Chief Rabbi of the IDF, Major General Rabbi Shlomo Goren. A memorial ceremony was held with the participation of senior Military Rabbinate officials, family members, and admirers. During the ceremony, Rabbi Goren's contribution to shaping the IDF and establishing systems that enable soldiers to maintain a religious lifestyle during their military service was emphasized.

The ceremony was led by the Chief Rabbi of the IDF, Major General Rabbi Eyal Karim, who dedicated his remarks to Rabbi Goren's character and legacy. Rabbi Karim described him as a religious and public leader who combined deep Torah study with responsibility for Israel's security, viewing military service and adherence to Halakha as intertwined. He highlighted Rabbi Goren's combination of religious greatness, valor, and leadership, embodying the concept of 'Torah and Sword'. Rabbi Karim noted that Goren was not content with study and teaching but actively engaged in public and practical challenges, working for all of Israel and upholding Torah principles even in the face of difficulties.

A significant portion of the memorial was dedicated to the impact of Rabbi Goren's legacy on the Military Rabbinate's activities during wartime. Rabbi Karim stated that IDF rabbis continue to operate in the spirit of the corps' founder, both in supporting fighting forces and strengthening their morale, and in carrying out complex and sensitive missions. Among these missions, he mentioned the identification of IDF casualties and their burial, areas Rabbi Goren considered a special calling.

Rabbi Karim also addressed Rabbi Goren's work in building the army's religious and Halakhic infrastructure from its inception. Rabbi Goren established the military kashrut system and worked to regulate Shabbat observance in the IDF, based on the belief that the army serves all parts of the nation and must enable soldiers with different lifestyles to fulfill their duties in a shared military framework. Rabbi Karim stressed that these actions were not just solutions to specific needs but part of a broader vision of the IDF as the "people's army."

At the end of the ceremony, the Chief Rabbi of the IDF reaffirmed the commitment to continue in the path of the Military Rabbinate's founder, both in routine activities and wartime missions. "His work will continue to guide our rabbis, our fighters, our commanders, and our leaders - from generation to generation," Rabbi Karim concluded.