the writer is clearly a angry spoiled anti religious guy who hates aniting that otter solders appreciate whit eni religious connection

When being asked to defend my country, I am willing to sacrifice my life to protect the freedoms my family and country should enjoy. To be forcibly subjected to religious dogma as a secular Jew is disheartening at best scary at worst. The authors are correct in their conclusion, this behaviour can lead to Holy Wars. And that is something I can not support.

They say there are no atheists in foxholes. I guess the saying isnt 100% true. A few weeks ago, in NYC when a jetliner landed in the river reports were that EVERYONE was praying. Hey--whether you believe or not--times of danger are not the time to hedge your bets. If you don't believe--dont' listen, close your ears and blow the talks away! I think that the fact that the commanders are mostly religious, versus the time when they were mostly secular is the real root of this man's annoyance. It bothers him to see Dati in positions of command. Nonetheless I thank him, the same way I thank the religious who serve, for his service and will thank G-d that they returned safe and sound and he was able to write an article of complaint.

think about it: fighting for God makes much fiercer soldiers than fighting for one's country.

these witers dont represent the majority of israeli troops most of the IDF love the chabadniks who come and help out {never mind the fact that a bunch of chabad hasidim serve in the IDF}

I can't bend my mind around young men going into war to fight for their country, and somebody calling them ungrateful for not wishing to listen to religious lectures. There is not very much difference between believing in 72 virgins when you die or the protection on the battlefield by heavenly angels ....

Please think about this. Whatever their religious convictions, the 2 authors risked their lives to defend the people of Israel and the State of Israel, including yourself. You commit the sin of Lashon Harah against two young men who stepped forward with honor and conviction in your defense. You should apologize to them for your hurtful words and request their forgiveness. If you wish them to display gratitude for the religious context provided by the kind Rabbis, then you should lead by example.

I do not see here any religious interference. What I see is that some Chabadniks are trying to bring Israeli soldiers closer to their roots by drawing similarities between biblical and more modern events, sparking maybe the fire of Judaism among their country men serving in the military. I would bless the Chabad movement for that.

Israel is a military and religious state where the top Generals and rabbinates have the upper word. No wonder all the Israeli politicians came from the army .Quick check of the Knesset members show the military rang of each of them. The secular parties influence is diminishing day by day and religious settlers are taking over.

I am a former soldier from the Egoz Unit of the Golani Brigade. Most of the officers were religious and were simply excellent soldiers. While not myself religious, I appreciated their prayers and bible stories before our mission. I agree with you, this sounds like a bitter anti religious leftist, but still I give him all the credit in the world for reporting to miliuem and serving the country when called.

maybe you should consider disassociating yourself totally from the jewish ppl. including not having these "proselytising jews" from burying you, or picking up your remains (G-d Forbid), or from enjoying the benefits of the chabad in the far east or in south america when you go on your post army tour. and when they come around with food and drinks because they care for your welfare make sure to stand on the side, and say "feh, sick religious pigs, all they want is to missionize us". just be happy and grateful that there are ppl who care enough about you, that they pray and put THEMSELVES in danger to help you.

As a mostly secular jew, I look forawrd to encounters wuth the Chabad outreach and Lubovichers generally to remind me how to properly perform ritual and why. They minister to me and I am grateful for it. When asked to sacrfice I already know the reasons in secular terms. Their guidance guves meaning. guidance and internal peace, and where necessary retraint even in the face of personal loss. If you take the time to remind how to wind my Tefillan then you are family when I need it most

if these religious zealots are so keen stuffing their belief in an invisible man in the sky to every IDF infantryman, why dont they pick up a rifle themselves and prepare to die for god? hypocrites, liers and cheats. Enough peddling of this ridiculous superstition. Israel is alive today not because of some deity who needs to be thanked daily like a whiny brat, its alive because its people fought and shed blood for it, something many of these Lubavitchers would have no clue about.

But you won't see that in ynet. Majority of soldiers in front line units are religious and you won't see that in ynet. Why Not?????

Question: Does Israel want to be a democracy or a copy of Iran? She cannot be both. She must choose and quickly.

Da Meayin Bata U lean atta holech! If you know where you came from and where you are going your mission is clear. Perhaps they wanted to share with you how they felt. Though I was here is LA with my young children, I took them even the preschooler to demonstrations. They need to know who they are. YOu my friend who wrote this are an angel to us in the Jewish world. We appreciate you, we feel, pray and cry for you. If you don't feel the spirituality that is okay, but when you do one day....... what a high, to have clarity. Those datiim have that clarity. They are moral, they are committed and they have unconditional love for you. So do I. Thank you, and I am sorry you were so offended. Am Eched be Lev Echad! (religious or not, it does not matter) One voice, one heart!

The writer clearly has no idea that when ancient Israel went to war, it was ALWAYS at G-d's direction... and the praisers (the musicians, singers, etc.) went ahead of the army to praise G-d and let the enemy know that G-d was on the side of the Israelites! I think that besides the intensive training insisted on by Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi over the past two years, the reason for the more intense fighting spirit and determination of the IDF in the Cast Lead operation is the FACT that more emphasis has been placed on the presence of G-d in the lives and mission of the soldiers. The writer's lack of understanding of this shows the lack of Jewish education and Biblical history in Israel's schools over the past years.

When I was in the army, orthodox rabbis who had never served and didn't know anything about it, came and went into our base as they pleased, spreading their insanity. One rabbi even seriously suggested that it was the Rabbi from Lubavitch who killed Joseph Stalin. 'People' like this should be deported to Iran, and not given the privilege of lecturing to our soldiers.

Dear Shamir and Gal did you ever stop to think how it was possible that there were so few Israeli casualties? Do you remember what happened to your comrades who went into Lebenon? Do you remember what happened to your camrades who went into Jenin? Maybe there was someone or something protecting you when you went into battle... and maybe that Someone or Something should have their name capitalized... I am sure you have often asked yourselves what the religious did during the war. Maybe this time they prayed a little harder so that some soldier who they don't know and will never meet will be kept safe, and will be able to make it home to see their partner and baby again. You say the army was unprepared for the Lebanon war, I'll tell you a little secret... it is possible that us religious didn't take our task seriously enough. I hope that we have now learnt our lesson and will play out part as fully as you play yours. Gal and Shamir, please, take a minute to reflect on the way wars pan out in this country... you will realize that something isn't working acording to the laws of nature... maybe it is the Hand of G-d.

I will not attack the authors, for they have a right to their opinion, a right that, because of their service is stronger than my right to my own. I would however like to ask why it is that they so fear and hate the religious. I deduce from the language of the article that at least one of the authors is a homosexual, and thatt they are all ardently secular, and so it is understandable that they would have significant disagreements with religious zionists. But Just as tehy would doubtlessly argue, quite correctly, that the reiligious right its prejudice against them, so I would argue that they are unjustified in their prejudice against the religious right. These rabbis serve along with them, and they offer to the soldiers the shielf of faith, which they believe is the most powerful protection they can offer. Now they may be wrong about that; there may be no God, no angels, no heaven at all, but while that may put into question the validity of the Rabbi's statement and elicit appropriate skepticism from the authors, it does not diminish their love of the state and its people and their desire to do what they can to protect the bodies and souls of soldiers, and so should not provoke such resentment P.S. I thank the authors for their courageous service.

Most soldiers I hear from in fact did not need any help to take psalms with them, they took as much as possible with them !!! both "seculars" and "religious". On the ground, there was no more difference between them. The bottom line being, if not in the Name of G.d, so in the name oh who ? your cousin ?

They complain that the "orthodox" don't care; then they complain that they do. This is a Jewish country; with an army of Jewish soldiers. It is our duty as Jews to protect our boys; to be an ethical army, and to do things the Torah way. Can our "educated writer" explain away the "luck" that despite over 6000 kassems, missiles, shootings, etc., so few people have been killed? Could it be - may be - that there is a Guardian of Israel, who is watching over us? I know that within 10 minutes, Charles is going to come out and say - where was he in the Holocaust? To Charles I say - he was there. Read the testimonials of so many of the survivors. They knew he was with them; that's what gave them the courage to survive. Do we know the reason that so many had to die? No. Is that a reason to question whether our Father cares for us? Not at all; he cared then; he cares now, and he'll care in the future.

Do not be quick to judge these two heroes of Israel. They are trained to protect you. If they are not trained as journalists, forgive them if they did not express their genuine frustration in a way that syncs with your worldview. Some of us are pleased that soldiers of the army of the Jewish state were given the opportunity to be infused with the words that our heroes heard thousands of years ago before doing battle with the enemies of Israel. However, it seems that the implementation of these sessions could have been performed with more sensitivity and forethought so not to upset those who do not identify with Torah in this way. Our boys deserve more. Whether they express their frustration in a productive way or not is up for debate. But until you are in their shoes, especially when those shoes are facing the enemy in battle, let's give some kav z'chut (benefit of doubt) and take this opportunity to learn from these brave men.

but without torah there is no jew so what do you want to protect then?

Calling the writer all those names seems to mirror your own thoughts. Soldiers don't need to be preached to many times. They all know what is going on and the reason why they are there. They are not evil beings going out to kill for the fun nor do they expect to be killed. There is a time and place for this religious, at the house of G-d. Somebody should talk to Olmert.....

Those Chabadniks come in without any military gear, no flap jackets, helmets..nothing...unlike the soldiers who are wearing protective gear and holding guns....all the Chabad niks have is a smile and love of their fellow Jew and their desire to do whatever they can for the soldiers...and THIS guy is complaining!

After searching all the Chabad and orthodox websites I could find, I concluded that none of them call for a holy war against anyone. Shamir Yeger and Gal Einav slander their own religion without any evidence to support their anti-semitic accusations. If the rabbis make you uncomfortable, then just walk away. You don't have to write an article like this.

Authors have a sarcastic, 'we know better than you' tone to their tome. Securing codes, maps and photos is one thing, but one gets the feeling they'd bash anything religious because of their outlook. In any event, they survived enough to write this piece. Maybe those 'Torah Angels' did their job just fine.

as a regious jew and former officer I believe that Chabad and others should only be available for those who want and frankly I don't want to hear from someone about G-d and Torah unless he is fighting beside me