IDF Rabbinate

Rabbis warn: Yeshiva students will boycott Armored Corps

Leading Religious Zionist educators warn against pilot program to integrate female soldiers into Armored Corps, citing operational and professional concerns.

IDF commander tells all:

How the IDF recovered Ran Gvili's body

In an Arutz Sheva interview, the deputy commander of the IDF Rabbinate combat unit recounts Operation Courageous Heart to recover Ran Gvili.

Following Shabbat desecrations:

IDF Spokesman's Unit to receive permanent halachic authority

Following reports of non-essential Shabbat activity, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit has appointed a rabbi to provide halachic oversight, marking a first in the unit’s history.

Non-kosher citrons distributed to soldiers in Gaza

Soldiers in Gaza discovered that citrons distributed to them for Sukkot were damaged and unfit for use in the traditional waving of the Four Species.

Tucker Carlson slurs American IDF volunteers due to his ignorance

Fighting evil abroad Is American. Just ask the heroes of WWII. Opinion.

Chief of Staff to Military Rabbinate: 'You are doing holy work'

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir visited the Military Rabbinate Headquarters and emphasized the importance of their work with the bodies of fallen soldiers.

Kashrut in the IDF: No compromises, highest standards

In reality, the kashrut standards maintained in the army today are often more stringent than those of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and, in fact, often rival those of the mehadrin kashrut agencies.

A Jewish Army:

How the IDF Rabbinate prepared for Passover

Over 200,000 pounds of Matzah and combat-friendly “Seder kits” - and that's for starters.

Rabbi Shlomo Aviner visits Syria

Rabbi Shlomo Aviner and his assistant Rabbi Mordechai Tzion visited soldiers on the front in Syria 'to strengthen their fighting spirits as reservists of the Military Rabbinate.'

IDF Rabbinate premiers tactical Holy Ark

The new invention allows a Torah scroll to be safely and respectfully carried into the field and can quickly convert into a table for reading the Torah.

IDF Rabbinate:

Combat soldiers prohibited from fasting on Tisha B'Av

After two soldiers found themselves in a life-threatening condition after they fasted during the 17th of Tammuz, the Military Rabbinate reiterated its call for soldiers performing operational activities to eat and drink during the upcoming fast day.

Due to the war:

Soldiers permitted to train on Jewish fast days

Ahead of the upcoming fast days and amid the war, the IDF Rabbinate published a booklet with special instructions for soldiers in the field.

96 Years Old:

Lehi fighter Ezra Yakhin promoted to Command Sergeant Major

Ezra Yakhin, who fought in the Lehi paramilitary organization before the founding of Israel, is still doing IDF reserve duty at 96 in the IDF Rabbinate.

Missionary group barbecue for IDF soldiers canceled

After the rabbi of a battalion in northern Israel discovered that the event scheduled for his soldiers was organized by Christian missionaries and the food was unsupervised the commander decided to cancel it.

Like every rabbi, but more extreme

A look into the important work of the IDF Rabbinate

Captain Rabbi Yehoshua Gerstein tells Arutz Sheva about the IDF rabbis' various jobs, from providing kosher food and religious items to tending to the fallen and boosting morale.

Hundreds of mezuzahs donated to the IDF found to be invalid

Givati Brigade Rabbi sent hundreds of donated mezuzahs to be inspected by the IDF Scribes Institute, which found many to be invalid.

In attempt to identify Jews:

Over 1000 bodies of 10/7 terrorists to be examined

Dental and DNA samples will be taken from each terrorist's body to ensure that there are no Jews among them.

IDF chief female coroner:

'Two months later we are still identifying Oct. 7th vicitms'

IDF Rabbinate's female coroner team leader says that despite the difficult scenes, the importance of the work keeps her team going.

IDF rabbis demand reservists recant refusal

200 military rabbis have signed a letter rebuking the reservists who announced they would not serve in the IDF due to the judicial reform.

Turkey:

IDF Rabbinate cares for Israeli delegation's spiritual needs

The Rabbinate members provided religious necessities, from Kosher food to a synagogue and special instructions for Shabbat.

'Mosaic of religions'?

IDF Rabbinate book deals with non-Jewish religious beliefs

"Officers must be familiar with beliefs, customs of non-Jewish soldiers," says IDF spokesman.

Will IDF kitchens become no-go areas for religious soldiers?

Initiative to introduce dairy cooking into officers' lounges just a first step, says Rabbi Levanon. It comes into practice today.

Historic meeting of Israeli & European Jewish army chaplains

"We have very different challenges, but we still have a lot to learn from one another."

Yeshiva Rabbi tells students to avoid dairy kitchens in IDF

The headmaster of Yeshivat Elon Moreh has instructed his students not to eat dairy food cooked in IDF kitchens.

'Catastrophe' in the IDF: Dairy cooking may be allowed again

Decades later, the IDF may lift a lengthy ban on dairy in base kitchens. Military Rabbis have warned against the move.

Coronavirus in IDF rabbinical course

70 cadets from IDF rabbinical course ordered into isolation after 2 of them test positive for coronavirus.

Passover preparations in the IDF

Hundreds of soldiers recruited to take the place of the reservists who usually prepare for Passover on the bases.

IDF body identification lab converted to coronavirus lab

IDF Chief Rabbinate joins war against coronavirus, converts DNA lab to facility capable of handling hundreds of specimens daily.

MK Gafni protests non-kosher food in IDF kitchens

UTJ's MK Gafni appeals to Defense Minister Naftali Bennett to maintain status quo in IDF kitchens and prevent entry of non-kosher food.

Watch: IDF Rabbinate's Choir performs 'Haben Yakir Li'

Accompanied by Chief IDF Cantor Shai Abramson, IDF's Rabbinate Choir performs classic at Israeli music festival.

IDF relaxes restrictions on facial hair for religious soldiers

The IDF relaxed its grooming standards to enable religious soldiers to grow beards after revised rules in 2016 caused a huge backlash.

IDF Rabbinate holds special Shabbat for bereaved families

Rabbinate held this past weekend a special Shabbat at a hotel for religious families of soldiers who were killed during their IDF service.

Army Rabbinate really against 'Joint Service Order'?

Modesty laws booklet reveals true position of IDF Rabbinate in relation to mixed-gender order it was forced to sign.

'Leftists are trying to destroy the IDF Rabbinate'

Forum of reservist IDF rabbis say attacks on IDF Chief Rabbi appointee part of larger effort to marginalize Judaism within the IDF.

New IDF Chief Rabbi subjected to rehashed 'controversy'

IDF Personnel Directorate head calls Rabbi Karim for 'clarification conversation' regarding statements made by the rabbi 3 and 4 years ago.

New Chief Military Rabbi appointed

Rabbi Eyal Moshe Karim, former paratroopers commander and author of a book on Jewish military law, will be the next Chief Military Rabbi.

Smotrich erupts over IDF Rabbinate reorganization

During Knesset committee meeting MK Bezalel Smotrich called plan to reorganize IDF Rabbinate 'underhanded opportunism'.

Chief rabbis demand PM keep 'Jewish Consciousness' in rabbinate

In letter to PM, Rabbis David Lau and Yitzhak Yosef insist transferring Jewish Consciousness dep't from IDF Rabbinate will cause 'ruin.'

'The IDF Rabbinate has declared its own death'

Critics fume after IDF Chief of Staff officially announces decision to remove Jewish Consciousness department from IDF Rabbinate.

Eizenkot removes 'Jewish Consciousness' from rabbinate

IDF Chief of Staff gives in to leftist groups, moves key department from military rabbinate to personnel directorate.

Leading Rabbis Call to 'Save the IDF Rabbinate'

Rabbis hold conference in Jerusalem to discuss the budget cut threats facing rabbinate, and explain why rabbinate so crucial to the army.

Rabbis: Soldiers May Eat Meat During 'Nine Days'

Soldiers need their strength, and fighting terrorists to save Jewish lives trumps the custom not to eat meat this week, IDF Rabbis said.

IDF on 'Bible Alert' for September

Ground Forces Rabbi hints there may be a need for intense spiritual support for troops in September.

IDF Eulogy Text Moves Closer to G-d

The new chief of staff has approved a change in the text recited in military memorial ceremonies to include G-d’s Name.

Israel's Chief Rabbis Visit IDF's Chief Rabbi

Israel’s chief rabbis, Rabbi Yona Metzger and Rabbi Shlomo Amar, met on Sunday with Chief Military Rabbi Rafi Peretz and his staff.

On LIne Judaism in the IDF: Shabbat-Friendly Phones for Soldiers

The IDF rabbinate has developed a device that will allow soldiers to speak on the telephone without Shabbat desecration.