Rabbi Danny Isaac, who heads the Beit Orot Hesder yeshiva, which combines religious studies and military service, said, Thursday, that motivation among his students to join select combat units in the Israel Defense Forces has risen, in spite of recent events in which officers have made things difficult for members of the Hesder program. Rabbi Isaac told Arutz Sheva's Hebrew service that there's competition to get into the more select units. He added that most of the students want to get into infantry units such as Golani and Givati, and each year, the school has to hold a drawing to see who has to give up on infantry and go to artillery or the armored corps.
The rabbi said that despite the occasional obstacles, the important thing is that military services fulfills two commandments: first, fighting a war against Israel's attacking enemies; second, conquering the country. He added, "Even if someone tries to reduce our power, he won't succeed in harming our love of Torah and the land. All these disturbances will pass. Temporary situations won't harm the principle."