The top leadership of the IDF Home Front Command met Wednesday evening with top hareidi-religious leaders, and participated in a Talmud class in Yeshivat Ponovezh. Among the "students" were Home Front Command O.C. Gen. Yair Golan, district commanders and other senior officers.
The stated purpose of the day tour was to "discuss and learn issues of common interest."
The officers met with representatives of the Zaka and Ezer MiZion organizations. Zaka deals with emergency medical responses and collection of body parts for burial, while Ezer MiZion offers monetary and other help to victims of terror attacks and those in financial straits.
The visit was capped off with a two-hour visit to the famed Ponovezh Yeshiv in Bnei Brak, featuring a class in Jewish Law - specifically, the passage at the beginning of Tractate Bava Metzia about two people who claim the same object. The visitors and hosts also discussed the problems facing the hareidi-religious public, and solutions that are being pursued.
Gen. Golan, who described the meeting as positive, said it is important to get to know the hareidi populace. More such encounters are planned.
The tour was held as part of a series of visits designed to help the Home Front Command get to know the various population sectors and their ability to deal with emergency situations.
The Home Front Command often holds various exercises throughout the country. One was held a month ago in the cities of Petach Tikvah and Elad, and siren-testing exercises have been held in various districts over the past several weeks.