Jerusalem – IDF’s Only Ultra-Orthodox Battalion Sworn In (photos)

Jerusalem – Hundreds gathered at Ammunition Hill in the capital Sunday evening to witness the swearing-in of the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, the only haredi (ultra-Orthodox) unit in the IDF. The battalion, currently numbering close to 1,000, is responsible for military operations in and around Jenin.

Created in 1999, following intensive discussions between haredi educators and the IDF, the Netzah Yehuda Battalion allows religious Israelis to serve in the IDF in a halachically observant environment that is conducive to their religious convictions.

The motto of the soldiers in the battalion is “V’haya Machanecha Kadosh,” (“And Your military camp shall be holy”), a phrase taken from the Torah, describing the importance of keeping a Jewish military camp free of sin and ritually unclean objects.

Although a disproportionate number of the media came to cover the event due to word of impending haredi demonstrations protesting the politically-charged induction, Rabbi Yoel Schwartz dismissed the notion that this ceremony was different than any other in the IDF.

“It’s not a special ceremony – it’s just like any other swearing-in ceremony,” said Schwartz, who serves as a rabbi for the men in the unit. “The media’s here because they thought there’d be a protest, that’s all.”

Tzvika Gedalovitz, 25, who served for three years in the battalion, attended the ceremony to support his fellow conscripts.

“I was a member of this unit, now I’m here to support them,” he said. “I felt very good serving in this unit because it’s a perfect place [to observe] the Orthodox way of life, and be a soldier.”

Gedalovi echoed Schwartz’s sentiments that the large turnout was mostly due to anticipated demonstrations from haredim, adding that he believes such protests are unjust because young haredim should have the choice whether to study Torah or serve in the IDF.

“I think their protests are not justified,” he said. “There are those who should study Torah, but some, like me, want to join the army to contribute to their country and be part of Israeli society because when they only study, they’re closed off to the world.”

Gedalovi said the hardei soldiers in his unit served as honorably as any other, and found emotional support to deal with the alienation felt from their respective communities by speaking to soldiers with similar backgrounds.

“They were no less [upstanding] than the other infantry fighters,” he said. “They did the same training and because they come from communities that don’t support them, fellow soldiers showed them extra support because fellow hardeim understand [their circumstances].”

In terms of the anticipated haredi protest, Rafi Heltzer – who has worked at Ammunition Hill for over four years, and attended every swearing-in ceremony over that period – said it’s much ado about nothing.

“I’ve seen all the swearing-ins every four months for this brigade and have never seen a protest,” he said. “I always come because it’s very moving to watch people from religious and secular communities come together as one.”

Heltzer added that he is particularly touched by the unique tradition within the unit after singing the National Anthem.

“For me, the most moving thing is that this is the only unit in the IDF that sings “Ani Ma’amin” [“I believe the Messiah will come”] after Hatikva,” he said.

Meanwhile, a current member of Netzah Yehuda, who requested anonymity and is taking leave to nurse a twisted ankle, said he came to the ceremony to support his fellow religious soldiers.

“I came from a haredi family, but chose to be less Orthodox,” he said of his decision to join the IDF.

“There are two different types of orthodoxy in the [battalion],” he continued. “The haredim are much more traditional – like the way it was during the Jewish exile in Europe. The other half is more progressive and more open to new ideas and trying new things.”

He said he most identifies with the latter group, adding that most misconceptions about haredim are attributable to politicians attempting to present them in a one-dimensional light.

“It’s usually the politicians who create this [distorted] view of haredi society – that they’re the ‘true Jews’ and holy people,” he said. “But at the end of the day, each of them is unique, and they always will be.”

The common denominator among the haredi soldiers in the unit, he said, is that all of them left their yeshivas to “think independently.”

“What makes these soldiers so unique is that a lot of them are guys who left the yeshiva system because they wanted to think independently,” he said. “It’s a pretty awesome social experiment if you think about it.”

This independence of thought, compounded by the ongoing success of the program, is what most upsets traditional haredim, he said.

“I think what scares the more traditional within hardei society is that these soldiers think for themselves and have succeeded,” he said. “Things don’t usually last for this long if they’re not successful.”

{NewsPhotosEmbed 523937924}