Haredi Draft Issue
IDF Rolls Out New Guidelines for Haredi Soldiers: Introducing 'David, Sword, and Shield'
Unlike the old guidelines, which could shift easily, these orders are more solid and need the Chief of Staff's okay for any tweaks, stopping lower-level officers from making changes on the fly.
Israel's military is making a big push to better integrate ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jews into service. Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir is about to sign off on updated General Staff orders that lay out clear rules for Haredi enlistment and daily life in the IDF.
These include three new service options, "David," "Sword," and "Shield," scaling up units from small companies to full battalions and brigades, and adding outside rabbinic oversight for the first time.This change responds to years of calls from Haredi communities and IDF leaders working on integration.
The setups cater to different religious needs:
The IDF is also moving toward bigger units (like battalions and brigades) to help maintain the religious level and spirit of the soldiers, since smaller teams often fizzle out. One critical new feature is bringing in external rabbis to keep an eye on things, something that's never been done before in IDF-Haredi ties. To avoid messing with the chain of command, where civilians can't boss around soldiers, the rabbis will advise the Defense Ministry instead.
Any issues get passed up to political levels and then down to the IDF as official directives.Some rabbis from groups supporting Haredi troops point out a weak spot: no real penalties for breaking the rules. "Turning policies into formal orders is a good statement, but without consequences, it's just words," they say. "When ops clash with religious rules, commanders tend to bend the faith side. If the IDF wants trust, ignoring agreed lifestyles should count as serious command slip-ups, like losing gear or safety lapses."
Another gap is the Education Corps. While things like separating genders and kosher meals are covered, cultural programs and education sessions, which can clash with Haredi values, aren't tailored yet.
The IDF commented: "The orders are wrapping up approvals and will hit the Chief's desk soon. This started months back, no link to recent laws. We're broadening ways for Haredim to serve, and these orders are part of that."
Israel Hayom contributed to this article.