Outrage following recommendation to remove rabbis from military ceremonies

“This is a war against the rabbinate and a hit to Judaism” said a former military rabbi.

Mar 12, 2015,11:30AM | Gal Cohen

Channel 2 News Online published a letter written by the chief education officer Brigadier General Avner Paz-Tzuk to General Haggai Topolansky, in which he asked him to change the nature of the military swearing in ceremonies and to remove the presence of the rabbis - which caused a stir.  Former chief military rabbi Brigadier General Avihay Rontzky claimed, “this is a slap in the face, a huge war against the rabbinate and a hit to Judaism.” 

Rontzky added: “I think this is just a shame.  The swearing in of almost every division is at the Western Wall, the center for prayer.  They swear on the bible and their gun.  The rabbi and the officers speak and give out the guns.  I hope that this is not accepted.  This is a huge mistake, he just doesn't understand the place of the military rabbi in his unit.  This is a hit to the Judaism of the army.”

According to Rontsky, chairman of Shas Aryeh Deri joined in by calling on the chief of staff Lt. General Gadi Eizenkot to condemn this.  “It is inconceivable that rabbis in Israel, at the swearing in ceremony at the Western Wall, which is their natural place, will not be welcome,” he said.  

The criticism was not only heard among the religious establishment, but also among religious soldiers serving in the IDF.  “I am just in shock at the suggestion,” said one religious soldier.  “This is the Torah of Israel, and we swear on the bible.  I expect someone in the army to eliminate this recommendation. quic

A reserve soldier who wore a kippah when he fought in Protective Edge said, “As a fighter, the relationship with the military rabbi was very important to me, and I think that they are not appreciated enough.  We are still a Jewish army.  In the next war, just like in every war against our enemies, what will determine the victory is the spirit of the nation, and the spirit of the fight.

Similar remarks were said by a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, MK Yoni Shitbon. “It seems that the education officer forgot that this is not a mercenary.  These are soldiers in the IDF.  IDF soldiers are not anyone’s puppet.  They want the legacy of Israel and are not afraid of our national values.  

What’s next - eliminating the distribution of the bible to fighters? This is uncalled for.  Israel is a Jewish state.”

The letter that was published is entitled “Swearing in Ceremony for New Recruits - Request for Re-examination”.  “I find it distasteful that the central character of the ceremony, next to the commander of the unit, are the rabbi of the unit and the rabbi of the corps,” wrote General Paz-Tzuk. “The ceremony is not a religious one, and there is no reason that it should appear to be.”  Paz-Tzuk noted in his letter that a number of officers recently expressed resentment about the rabbis’ centrality in these military ceremonies, whose nature is to swear allegiance to the IDF and the State of Israel.  

The Chief Education Officer suggested to change the ceremonies as such:

1. The commander of the unit, and not the rabbi of the corps or the unit will accompany the soldiers.

2. Reading from the bible will be done by one of the commanders

3. The rabbi of the corps will not give a speech.

“There is no reason that the rabbi needs to speak at a swearing in ceremony for the IDF and the state.” explained Paz-Tzuk.  At the end of the letter he attached the revised instructions and asked that the head of personnel accept it.  

The IDF spokesman said: “Over the years, the swearing in ceremony has been changed several times, and it is currently being examined again at the recommendation of professionals.  The nature of the ceremony will be re-examined, with an emphasis on the range of action of the commander, while maintaining the character of the IDF as a national army that includes people of different beliefs.” 

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MY PS.-

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF TIME, THE ARMIES OF ISRAEL AND THE G-D OF ISRAEL ARE IN EHAD (UNITY).  OUR G-D IS WHAT DEFINES US AS JEWS AND IT IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A JEWISH ARMY AND IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THERE ARE SOLDIERS WHO ARE NOT JEWISH...THEY ARE ALL WELCOME BECAUSE DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOT JEWISH THEY ARE WILLING TO FIGHT AND IF NECESSARY DIE FOR ISRAEL.

ISRAEL IS A DREAM COME TRUE...AND ONLY BY THE GRACE OF G-D.  AND FOR OUR CHRISTIAN BROTHERS-IN-ARMS...SOLI DEO GLORI...AMEN.  AND FOR OUR MUSLIM BROTHER-IN-ARMS...AS SALAM O ALAIKUM.  AND FOR OUR ATHEIST BROTHERS-IN-ARMS...YOU ARE ALSO WELCOME!!! 

THIS IS ONE MORE REASON THAT WE MUST BECOME THE "JEWISH STATE OF ISRAEL."  SO WE NEVER FORGET WHAT WE ARE...JEWS.  AND NEVER FORGET OUR CREATOR, OUR FATHER, OUR FRIEND...OUR G-D!!!