In a first report by Ishay Fridman (Channel 14), rabbis from pre-military preparatory academies (mechinot) announced they are joining the leaders of hesder yeshivas in calling on their students not to serve in mixed-gender units, following the yeshivas' lead. This broadens the religious-Zionist protest against the IDF's integration of women into combat roles, including the Armored Corps.
Heads of 19 pre-military preparatory academies had joined the hesder yeshiva call on Monday, directing students not to serve in the Armored Corps if a pilot integrating women proceeds. Now, the mechina rabbis themselves have made a similar pronouncement, amplifying the pressure. The broadening protest, first reported by Channel 14 journalist Ishay Fridman, follows weeks of escalation: on June 10, a group of hesder yeshiva heads sent a letter to the IDF chief of staff opposing women in the Armored Corps, and Rabbi Yigal Levinstein called on recruits to avoid Sayeret Matkal over the same issue on June 10–11. The IDF has stated the pilot will follow joint-service regulations and has not yet reached the chief of staff for approval. The Union of Hesder Yeshivas has formally distanced itself from the letter, saying it maintains dialogue with the military to enable halakha-compliant enlistment.
2 developments
- DevelopingForum Dvora warns IDF against yielding to rabbis' threats to bar women from service
- DevelopingPre-army academy head says Armored Corps mixed pilot threatens religious soldiers
- StrongRabbi Yigal Levinstein Urges Candidates to Avoid Sayeret Matkal Over Gender Integration
- DevelopingZamir calls for unity as rabbis threaten to bar students from tank units over mixed-gender pilot
Source and signal
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