Sorry, but I dont like misogyny or religious coercion. Zahal should not exclud women, which serve bravly!

I was really happy with the way this was written. I think that if more religious men were to speak to these soldiers and see they can still study Torah and serve it would help what is going on right now with the debate between going to yeshiva and the army. We need everyone we can get to serve, and not abandoning Torah studies while serving can be done and should.

They will just not have anything to do with this group of soldiers. Be thankful they are serving!

Most refuse to serve the nation and expect others to die on their behalf. The solution is simple, want to be paid by the state to study in a Yeshiva? Then do your three years like our children do in order to go to university.

yeshiva "dropouts", hesder students and chabad. These should really be incentives for haredim to join... Now let's see how Jewish the army is. Just over a month ago, on May 17, "in honor of Yom Yerushalayim", Jewish soldiers and officers of an elite combat unit were compelled to visit a church and attend a lecture by a religious leader, as part of an educational culture day by the IDF. It appeared no one in the Jewish army felt visiting a shul or Jewish site might be a tad more suitable. Realizing they were being escorted to a CHURCH SOME OF THE SOLDIERS POLITELY ASKED TO BE EXCUSED, EXPLAINING HALACHA DOES NOT PERMIT THEM TO ENTER SUCH A STRUCTURE. THEY WERE REFUSED AND ORDERED TO REMAIN AND PARTICIPATE. Religious soldiers who served time in military prison recently say they were forced to do cleaning work on the Sabbath. The soldiers reported that they were ordered to clean in preparation for an inspection. “It happens every Sabbath between 3:30 and 4.” “The commander ordered us to clean the tent, including picking up butts of cigarettes that of course we had not smoked, since we observe the Sabbath,” one said. A second soldier reported being ordered to clean sand in the area, “and to do so, we had to use rakes” – an implement forbidden for use on the Sabbath. The special committee appointed by IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz to examine the matter of kol isha HAS RULED THAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE IDF, INCLUDING FRUM SOLDIERS, WILL BE COMPELLED TO TAKE PART IN CEREMONIES WITH FEMALE VOCALISTS. And just about three weeks ago the IDF "embraced" gay pride. Sounds like a very Jews army. The Israeli government’s real motivation for wanting to draft Orthodox Jews is NOT to better defend the country against its external enemies and to "share the burden", but to strengthen the zionist dream of a Jewish people “liberated” from the yoke of Torah.

Any excuse to hate!

"ewish soldiers and officers of an elite combat unit were compelled to visit a church and attend a lecture by a religious leader, as part of an educational culture day by the IDF." Pretty sure most of these soldiers have spent considerable time in a shul throughout their lives already. Hence the words "educational culture day".

Where there is a will - there is a way:) Perhaps some of them will ultimately reconsider their delusional religion and will become even more productive citizens, and, if not - it is still a free country. You can follow whatever stupid religion (= Delusion) you want. If you pay your dues, no one should care what your belief system is. Bravo IDF:)

i've said it b4 and i'll say it again. The Kohen ha-Gadol was a civil servant of the Melech. The King was Boss Man in charge. High Priest was a just a worker bee. That's how our ethnicity was born and that's what we will return it to. Accept it or get expelled to Brooklyn.

Abuse OF haredi principles of religion except in pikuach nefesh direct is abhorrent.The Haredi if they serve ought servev in fully religious units that respect their traditions ; They have the capacity by their stringenty of direction to great capacity if the the les religious treat them respectfully.

Those of us inside the Haredi world know there could be many more enlisting if it is done carefully. Confrontation is not the correct way forward. The only thing worse than those who left yeshivah and should have stayed is those who stayed but should have left. Haredi girls should be encouraged to do alternative national service in suitable jobs.

In the USA they have men and women serving together. There have been many complaints from women soldiers and sailors that male officers sexually harrass them. There is a reasonable case for having parallel male and female units.

and I resent what you wrote. I have a job in computers, and other soldiers I served with are working towards getting the BA in many different fields. Is this not 'productive citizens'?! I am proud of my 'stupid' religion and that I served in the IDF. What have you done to support Israel?

My hat is off to you sir for being a productive citizen - it is how it should be after all. As for being dellusional - it is your right of course. To quote Forrest Gump though: "Stupid is as stupid does". Just my 2c. It is a fact that stupidity reigns supreme in humans world - thanks to dellusions like yours, we are the most vicious creatures on earth. Again: just my 2c. As to what I have done for Israel? Fair question. Like most israelis I served in the IDF and fought 2 wars on behalf of my homeland. My 2 children served in the IDF, and, in fact - my son is a combat pilot in the IAF. I hope all of this is good enough for you. Shalom and Kol Tuv.

We have just read about religious Jews in the IDF. No, not all Jews in the IDF are religious. This unit exists so that religious soldiers will not be coerced into doing what they don't want to do. The other units are not religious, so non religious soldiers will not be coerced into doing what they don't want to do. The soldiers you speak about who have complained should be transferred if they are truly religious. There may not be a program for those who are in the middle; they should decide one way or the other, religious or non.

As I recall, a gas mask will not fit well if you have a beard. I was not forced to shave mine when I was drafted but understood that I would have to shave it in time of war. I am not orthodox, so I had no problem with shaving it if necessary. How would these soldiers feel about that? My guess is that there would be many different answers as we are speaking of individuals with their own thoughts and feelings.

The Navi (prophet) was the leader of Israel, until insecure Jews (much like the faithless seculars who currently run Israel) wanted so desperately to be like other nations, they begged and pleaded for a Monarch. The Jewish Nation was born with Prophets leading the way, and *that* is what we will return to.

bemused

who died and left you chief khakham? how do you know you are not delusional?

Thank you, Joshua!

Look at all these very same talkbackers who criticize heredim for not serving - when they do these same talkbackers find excuses to criticize them on HOW they serve! This is pure Jewish Anti-semitism. Take it somewhere else!

Yes they need to see the reality outside their comfort zone!