the "religious" soldiers that continued to sit through the halachically forbidden performance should be ashamed of themselves for the chillul Hashem they created! May the righteous soldiers that did the right thing by leaving be rewarded with wonderful shidduchim and bracha in all that they do!

to attract more religious soldiers in the IDF?

They should at least ensure that something that is halachah and not just a tradition is honored. The soldiers did not protest the event; they excused themselves from the only part that was against halachah - ie listening to a women singing solo. If this had been in any other country the army would have been understanding but not in Israel. I would like to see the IDF being more sensitive to the needs of the religious public, and then perhaps there's a chance that more boys will opt for army service.

Did this happen in Iran?

but the story does not say if the religious soldiers that stayed plugged their ears with their fingers

I never heard that soldier were forced to go to certain entertainment. There are so many guard and kitchen duties that anyone who doesn't want to "be entertained" can find something else to do. It seems the idiot who is forcing the soldiers just wants to make sure that Haredim won't be able to serve in the army.

I served a foreign military for 10 years and never heard an act put on by the military featuring a female singing solo. Why in Israel, the only country place that it is considered inappropriate, is it such a problem? Because, only in Israel does one group, no matter where they are - the judicial system, the army, whatever - take it upon themselves to do whatever they can, whenever they can, against the other parts of society that do not agree with there values. Given the obvious and known problems with men hearing women sing, when such a thing is absolutely optional and has nothing to do with military requirements, any officer who sanctions forcing soldiers to listen to it should be dismissed immediately. I can guarantee that, in the old country, my superior officers would have understood and allowed me not to attend such an event if there were one. In fact, I did get the chaplain to change the prayer to say G-d instead of JC during parades... What is wrong with the officers in charge in the IDF?

When the secular say "why don't the religious join the army, we will accommodate their practices?" and when the religious zionists say "we too are an equal part of the Israeli society - treated with dignity and repsect" the Hareidim just sit back and laugh at your expense.

having had all 3 of my sons serve in the IDF, and where kravi, I know that the army is frequently not respectful of the religious beliefs of their religious soldiers. It is a shame, it is terrible, as much of the infantry of the IDF is made up of religious soldiers. The IDF must set policies that do not conflict with religious values, as this is a Jewish state with a Jewish army, much of which is religious. Respect is of those who are more religious than you is a very Jewish thing, and so it should be applied,

I am sure Hareidim will fight on shabbos but maybe that will be next, no fighting on shabbos. An order is an order it shows discipline whether you like it or not just like observing religous rules. Leaders do not always make the right decision but as a soldier one follows. If the religious boys cannot handle a female singing alone then they are not tough enough to be in the army, close your eyes and say a prayer in your head. It is petty and it is just the religous soldiers trying to change things.

1 - There are some authorities that say listening to a women's voice amplified by a microphone is OK. 2 - They did not have to walk out - they could have put ear plugs in during that segment and they could have looked down, not at the woman singing. This would have not brought attention to the situation. Better this way!

The army has no respect for religious values and this is its undoing. In any other Western country a soldier would not be forced to listen to a solo female singer if it was in contradiction with his spiritual values. That this is forced on soldiers in Israel is a great shame to the country. A little sensitivity is in order.

with earplugs.

What is the problem with hearing a woman sing alone? What if the other partner was sick? Isn't Judaism all about doing to others as you would like done, or not doing what you don't want done? How would any of you feel if you were the singer and people walked out in the middle of your singing or prior to it? Shame on the soldiers who made the singer feel badly, that is the worst thing to do

People complain that not enough Haredi serve in the IDF, then when they do serve the first thing is to force them to attend entertainment events. How is this musical performance vital to the protection of the state of Israel?

"Not hurting someone else's feelings" is not a one-way street. You can't use "Don't Hurt My Feelings" in order to force someone else to give up parts of their Judaism that you don't like. "Eat this ham sandwich I made" or you'll hurt my feelings! "Drive me to the mall on Saturday morning!" or you'll hurt my feelings! Or are your "feelings" more important than someone else's?

...the Army required all soldiers to sit in Synagogue all day Yom Kippur, and then punished you if you tried to get up to leave....enough of this double standard. Religion is a choice, and the army should b more sensitive

Pardon my ignorance, but I thought that only the singing of a married Jewish woman is prohibited? Was it the possibility that the Chayelet was married that motivated them to leave? I've also learned about the heter allowing one to be lenient if the voice is coming through a microphone. In any case, the IDF should be more sensitive to the needs of the Haredim serving in the IDF.

Cadets should warn officers that they will lodge a formal complaint against the respective officers for violation of their religious rights. They should also immediately request legal counsel and representation. Simple.

So what would these guys do if fighting a hostile woman soldier? "Come on guys, we are leaving the battle field, she's starting to sing." If these guys have such thin skins they shouldn't be in a professional military group. If armies have to coddle their soldiers so as not to offend their poor little values that army isn't going to be worth crap. It's a soldiers job to follow orders and if they aren't man or woman enough to do that they belong somewhere else.

In all seriousness can someone tell me where in the laws - not customs- it says that a woman's voice is against religious law?

Why would anyone want to live in a coming backward theocracy.

Dear Ora, Don't be so sure. The 'establishment' doesn't have 'Kabbalas Ole Shamoyim' doesn't understand their own Jewish 'nefesh eloquit,' (Don't know what a 'Yehudi is.) and might consider earplugs an insult. Punishment could ensue. Thank you Ben Gurion, et al for this mess. Brilliant founders and leaders...brilliant and wise.

you admit you "don't understand" then you condemn. Very cruel and foolish of you. What! You're trying to copy the Israeli elite and establishment! Ugh! Torah is truth and love...great wisdom and understanding. Try it on for size.

You want the the religious to serve then unnecessarily crap in their face and say they deserve severe punishment. Whoever is in charge acted STUPIDLY.

They shouldn't have left but is the prejudice against religious soldiers really justified?