The Modern Day Hashmonaim
In Parshat Matot, Bamidbar 32:6 we read:
Moshe said to the children of Gad and the children of Reuven, “Shall your brothers go out to battle while you settle here?”
Moshe is explaining to the tribes that chose to inherit in Trans-Jordan that if there is a war, they must fight as well. It isn’t fair for only part of B’nai Yisrael to fight. Everyone must do their part.
This verse has been in the news recently as during this very long war in Israel we have seen the same soldiers from the Religious Zionist, Traditonal and Secular communities serving in the army and in Miluim (reserves) while a very small percent of the Haredi (Ultra Orthodox) community serve.
One way of bringing the Haredi community into the fold is through the new Hashmonaim brigade- the all Haredi combat unit which already has two classes of highly trained infantry fighters.
The Haredi soldiers in the Hashmonaim brigade are promised that they can observe their Haredi lifestyle in every way including having an hour to study Talmud each day and are provided with strictly Kosher meals. The soldiers are required to pray three times a day, keep their beards and peyot and are only permitted to use “kosher” (filtered) phones.
The Chief of General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir told the soldiers:
You are proof that there is no contradiction between and ultra-Orthodox lifestyle and serving in the IDF. Anyone who enlists as a Haredi will remain a Haredi.
He added that they are pioneers and trailblazers.
The modern day Hashmonaim are following in the footsteps of the tribes of Reuven and Gad who agreed to go in and fight along with B’nai Yisrael.
The target is to have 4,000 Haredi soldiers join the Hashmonaim brigade.
Hopefully, the Haredi community will see that you can fight in the army and remain religious (which the Religious Zionist community has been doing since before the founding of the State). In that way, the Haredim will not have to be forced into joining but will join because they understand that we need more fighters to keep the State of Israel safe and because it is the right thing to do.
May we see more Haredi units open up in the army so that we can draft as many soldiers as possible and ensure that there is true peace in Israel.
