The soldier was taking part in a discussion during a course at a military police training base last week. Voice of Israel military correspondent Carmela Menashe reported that at one point, the officer handed the soldier two bags, and told him not to look at them, but to pour their contents onto the floor and step on them. The soldier fulfilled the order, and then saw that he had stepped on a tallit - a religious prayer shawl.
The soldier reportedly went into a state of shock, refused to talk, and later asked for psychological counseling. Soldiers who witnessed the incident said they were stunned, and did not understand what the educational message was supposed to be.
The soldier's father later said, "Is this the message the IDF gives its soldiers who come and give it their soul for three years? Is the message that they should trample on a tallit? Woe unto us for having such an army. All religious people should hear that the Israel Defense Forces ordered a soldier to trample on a tallit. Is this logical? The boy innocently followed an order, and then it turns out it was a tallit. He caused him to step on his soul."
It was reported that the commander later apologized to the soldier. The IDF said the matter would be investigated.
Arutz-7 called the IDF Spokesman's office this morning to find out what the investigation had turned up, why such an order was given, and what steps would be taken to ensure that similar incidents do not recur. The response, delivered several hours later, was this:
"On the face of it, the incident appears to be a grave one. An investigation is underway, headed by the commander of the military police training base, and its findings will be presented to the Chief Military Police Officer."
The soldier reportedly went into a state of shock, refused to talk, and later asked for psychological counseling. Soldiers who witnessed the incident said they were stunned, and did not understand what the educational message was supposed to be.
The soldier's father later said, "Is this the message the IDF gives its soldiers who come and give it their soul for three years? Is the message that they should trample on a tallit? Woe unto us for having such an army. All religious people should hear that the Israel Defense Forces ordered a soldier to trample on a tallit. Is this logical? The boy innocently followed an order, and then it turns out it was a tallit. He caused him to step on his soul."
It was reported that the commander later apologized to the soldier. The IDF said the matter would be investigated.
Arutz-7 called the IDF Spokesman's office this morning to find out what the investigation had turned up, why such an order was given, and what steps would be taken to ensure that similar incidents do not recur. The response, delivered several hours later, was this:
"On the face of it, the incident appears to be a grave one. An investigation is underway, headed by the commander of the military police training base, and its findings will be presented to the Chief Military Police Officer."