Let me see, Sinai is turning into a terrorist camp, Egypt is blaming the Mossad for starting trouble, Syria is almost in a civil war which for sure will some how be blamed on us and Iran is threatening to blow us off the face of the earth. The IDF is deciding to ban patchouli and kill the morale of a brigade.Surely the officers can focus their attention on something more important.

Regimental mascots are well known, I have seen British troops parade with a carefully equipped pet goat for instance, but definitely not on field activities. On the other hand, having a bottle or other object around the neck sounds exactly like a primitive aboriginal magic charm. Not a mentally healthy habit for a modern Jewish army. The ID tag should be the only item needed around an active soldier's neck for a very practical purpose!

need to believe in an extraordinary power. Believing in patchouli is filling the void left by the loss of faith in Judaism. Not mandatory but attractive Tora studies will help solve this problem.

Apparently, this custom has been around for decades and it doesn't seem to have had any adverse effect on the soldiers' performance. And if people think it's offensive to women, then maybe female soldiers can start wearing vials of their boyfriends' bodily fluids in the name of equality.

The ranking officers are upset because of the disrespecting manner of the vial, in my opinion , the officers need to improve on their own lacking of values and ethics which are "very important" to them before they start messing around with a mascot.

it smells like hell. I thought only the great french unwashed used such scents to cover their lack of bathing... Now, IDF? oh no!

protecting?

Perhaps best to let these soldiers be and patchouli does have a nice smell.

In the US armed forces mutiny is punishable by death. I wonder what's the punishment for mutiny is in IDF. Clearly it's not harsh enought, otherwise soldiers would not be threading it so openly over some mascot. Military is not a democracy, you listen to your orders and you execute like it or not

Wow, things have indeed changed since my day as a Tzanchan. Refuse to serve because you can't carry your perfume? What is the matter with these people?

I am a soldier serving in this compony and I need people to understand the importants of keeping this tradition around. The pachouli is not just a vial around our necks but a symbol of brotherhood and hard work, it's what drives us and keeps us working well binding us together. We do not in any way shap or form disrespect women. The symbol and tradition has been around over 30 years and it will not suddendly be taken out now or ever. We will do what we must to keep this tradition going as long as it takes so that other generations can partake even if it means we get court marshaled

just discontent in the ranks. Sheesh....

You sir are nothing less than a coward and a traitor for speaking such words.

This is news because?

The custom itself does seem abit childish but it is harmless enough though and the top brass should be worrying about things like do the soldiers keep their weapons clean rather than this stupid thing. The soldiers however do not have a right to mutiny over it. A soldiers job is to do as he is told by his superior officer and if he doesn't like it he does it grudgingly he does not say I don't like it so I am going to mutiny.

we have already sent u a new pair of socks. Please do use them to cover ur hands so that u will not be able to disturb our soldiers (or anyone else) with your ridiculous blather!

I seriously had to read this article twice to make any sense out of it. And I'm sorry I did. Mascot, patchouli, mutiny, what!? I'm off to bed... Maybe by the time I wake up, the world will have recovered some of its sanity. :)(

The IDF leaders are correct in banning the patchoulli talisman. In fact, all superstitions and all actions that disrespect women should be banned from the IDF, especially those forced upon the soldiers by the haredim. So much hypocrisy!

undying loyalty to Israel....as soon as she knows she'll be safe.. .. Ah, the discipline of certainty, knowing you're always 'right'!! TATA

Hey guys. Not sure if you know this or not but on JPost this article runs right next to an adverisment of a young Israeli woman in her underwear wearing a t-shirt that says "Meh?". I wonder which is more disrespectful to women? Patchouli around a soldiers neck or women on the webpage in thier underwear?

If this bit of perfume around their neck means a lot to them, so what? Lots of young people have lots of things around their neck. It's a harmless custom and not worth damaging morale. Nothing primitive or aboriginal. Why is it 'goyish'. Tatoos or cutting off male sideburns are Torah prohibitions, but where does it say , thou shalt not wear patchouli around thy neck?

I use this fragrance in aroma therapy. Am I doing something disrespectful? Which fluid is in patchouli? Do aromatherapists know about this? Does it matter if soldiers have a mascot?

Now it depends what is in the patchouli does it not? If fluid secreted from a woman's body due to orgasm then it is immoral and is in conflict with the teachings of Hashem. Just as is the case if sperm was used. These soldiers are idiots and should be taught to respect our Jewish religion.